Roberto Martinez will hold talks with Cristiano Ronaldo over his international football thoughts after naming the former Manchester United forward in his first Portugal squad.
Ronaldo's last appearance for the Portuguese national team ended in disappointment as the current Al Nassr captain was part of the squad beaten by Morocco in the World Cup quarter-finals. The defeat would end up costing Fernando Santos his job as Portugal boss and he was replaced by ex-Wigan Athletic, Everton and Belgium manager Martinez.
The 38-year-old has been handed a call-up in the first international squad since the World Cup for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Luxembourg. Speaking about his decision to include the ex Real Madrid man, Martinez said: "Cristiano Ronaldo is a very committed player. He can bring experience and is a very important figure for the team. I don't look at age."
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Martinez was asked about the future of Ronaldo during his first press conference as Portugal boss and explained his rationale: "Football decisions have to be taken on the field of play. I'm not an office decision-making coach. So my starting point is to get to all the players and I want to get in touch with them.
"The list of 26 players from the World Cup is my starting point and Cristiano is a player on that list, he has been with the national team for 19 years and he deserves the respect of being able to sit down and talk. From there it is to create, in 10 weeks, the best team for our matches, for the qualification for the European Championship.
"Today is a day of satisfaction. Tomorrow we will start working, getting to know all the players and Cristiano is one of them."
Ronaldo will reunite with his former Reds teammates Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes during the international break.
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