Cristiano Ronaldo's Major Controversies: Rooney, Mou, Benítez

Cristiano Ronaldo has once again found himself in the spotlight after leaving the Portugal national team's concentration, marking yet another clash with his coach. Throughout his career, Ronaldo has been involved in numerous controversies, from incidents with Wayne Rooney to conflicts with managers like José Mourinho, Fernando Santos, and even the Juventus club itself. The latest chapter features Jorge Jesus, the Portuguese national team manager, expressing his firm stance regarding the treatment of star players: "A player's status does not grant them any special privileges. My focus is on respecting their careers," he stated.

Ronaldo's departure from the national team's camp came shortly after Jesus' press conference, during which he released a statement indicating his intention to reveal the truth behind his decision to leave the national team he has always been dedicated to.

One of the most notorious incidents occurred during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where Ronaldo infamously appealed for Wayne Rooney to be sent off after Rooney appeared to step on Ricardo Carvalho's foot. Rooney was shown a red card, and images of Ronaldo celebrating the decision sparked widespread controversy, straining their relationship and fueling speculation about their coexistence in the England team.

Tensions had also arisen between Ronaldo and Mourinho even before their time together at Real Madrid. In 2007, while Mourinho managed Chelsea and Ronaldo played for Manchester United, the two exchanged public comments. Their differences continued in Madrid, often concerning tactical aspects and Ronaldo's defensive duties. Luka Modric later revealed that they had a heated exchange when Mourinho criticized Ronaldo for not tracking an opponent during a Copa del Rey match, requiring teammates to intervene in the locker room to defuse the situation. Their relationship deteriorated significantly, especially during the 2012-13 season, which was Mourinho's last in his first stint at Madrid.

Rafa Benítez, who managed Real Madrid for a brief period in the 2015-16 season, also experienced issues with Ronaldo. Early in the preseason, tensions arose when Ronaldo disagreed after Benítez disallowed one of his goals. Discrepancies regarding training exercises and Ronaldo's free-kick techniques were notable, although Benítez publicly asserted that the relationship with Ronaldo was "very good," going so far as to call him "the best in the world."

During Ronaldo's second spell at Manchester United, his relationship with Erik ten Hag became notably tense in 2022 when Ten Hag confirmed that Ronaldo refused to come on during a match against Tottenham. Ronaldo subsequently criticized the club's management, claiming that "Manchester United needs to rebuild everything" and questioning Ten Hag's views on the team's chances in the Premier League and Champions League, stating, "If you're the manager of Manchester United, you can't say that."

Moreover, Ronaldo faced challenges with Fernando Santos during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Santos's decision to bench Ronaldo in the round of 16 against Switzerland backfired; substitute Gonçalo Ramos scored three goals in a 6-1 victory. Ronaldo also started on the bench in the quarterfinal against Morocco, eventually entering in the second half, but Portugal was eliminated. Santos later admitted that his relationship with Ronaldo was strained post-tournament, leading to a cessation of contact.

Ronaldo's departure from Juventus was similarly fraught with controversy, involving a dispute over unpaid wages during the pandemic, highlighting the complexities that have characterized his career.