An unexpected 2022 World Cup elimination at the hands of Morocco proved costly for Fernando Santos, who left his position at Portugal after eight years in charge of the national team.
Former Belgium manager Roberto Martinez was the chosen one to take over, and he couldn’t have asked for a better start. In his first two games, Portugal destroyed Lichtenstein and Luxembourg to start the 2024 Euro qualifiers strongly.
Cristiano Ronaldo looks happy with his new coach, claiming that Martinez’s hiring brought “a breath of fresh air” to the national team. Bruno Fernandes, however, later made it clear he disagrees with his teammate.
Bruno Fernandes disagrees with Ronaldo on Roberto Martinez claim
“No, it’s just a new coach, with new ideas,” Fernandes said, as quoted by The Sun. “There’s no breath of fresh air at all. It’s just a transitional period. The atmosphere in the national team has always been good.There are new dynamics, a new coach and we have to assimilate his ideas.”
There have been rumors of bad blood between the Portuguese stars since Ronaldo’s controversial departure from Manchester United. However,as long as they perform well together with the national team, nothing else should matter.
Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, currently serving as the Managing Editor of Bolavip. He began his journey with the website in February 2021, making a name for himself through comprehensive coverage of multiple sports, including NFL and soccer, with a specialty in original content and real-time reporting of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. In June 2024, Martin took on the role of Subeditor, where he excelled in overseeing the publication of stories, assisting staff writers, and ensuring content quality. His prior experience includes managing social media for CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and Spanish, as well as reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and ability to capture breaking news, Martin has consistently been a valuable asset to the Bolavip team, especially during crucial sports seasons involving trades, playoffs, and finals. Now, as the Managing Editor since May 2025, Martin brings his extensive experience and keen editorial sense to lead Bolavip’s team, driving the website's growth and ensuring it remains a top source for sports news and analysis with interviews and exclusive content.
