Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo will expect to play a different playing role at Euro 2024 this year, coming off the bench and not playing a full 90 minutes instead of his regular starting position. The former Manchester United , Real Madrid and Juventus striker has 130 goals and 46 assists in 207 games for Portugal and has been a mainstay in the national side for years. The superstar will likely look upon Euro 2024 as potentially his last international competition with his country – and former United defender Wes Brown has explained the different role his old team-mate could find himself facing this time around.
Speaking on Reach's new Euro Thrash podcast – which you can find on YouTube , Apple and Spotify – Brown said: "I think he will start, but ultimately I don't think he's going to play the whole game. I think he'll understand that. He's a great player to have coming off the bench, someone who is a shoo-in for goals, with his scoring record.
"It is as simple as that. I do think he will play a different role. And it will be good for him to not play a game.
He will just come on for 20 minutes, and then see how far they can get." Brown, who secured two Champions Leagues and five League titles with the Red Devils, also noted that Ronaldo won't be publicly berating Portugal boss Roberto Martinez for this decision, as the pair will be in mutual "respect" to one another. Brown continued: "You've got to respect the manager and the manager will respect Ronaldo.
It's as sim.
