Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has boldly suggested that one influential former Manchester United star should be ‘left out’ for his country’s first two matches at Euro 2024.
Manchester United players have been called up for their respective countries this summer for Euro 2024 in Germany and the Copa America in the United States.
Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw have both been named in the England squad for Euro 2024, with Tom Heaton earning a late – and rare – call-up to the squad on Monday.
Scott McTominay is expected to feature for Scotland at Euro 2024, while Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes have secured their places in the Portugal squad.
Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund have been called up for Denmark, with both United players set to play a key role in Germany for their country.
Marcus Rashford will miss the tournament after he failed to make the England squad, while Harry Maguire withdrew from the Three Lions squad due to injury.
Euro 2024 will officially begin on Friday when host nation Germany face Scotland in their Group A opener in Munich.
Merson makes bold argument on ex-Man Utd star
Paul Merson praised Bruno Fernandes as a “top-class” player and expects the Manchester United captain to play a “starring role” for Portugal at Euro 2024.
However, the Sky Sports pundit is far from convinced by Fernandes’ former United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, who will captain Portugal at the tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo ended his most recent season with Al Nassr by breaking the Saudi Pro League scoring record in a single season.
The 39-year-old United legend scored 35 times in 31 league appearances for Al Nassr to overtake the record previously set by Abderrazak Hamdallah.
Despite his scoring output for Al Nassr in the 2023-24 season, Merson made the bold argument that Ronaldo should be left out of Portugal’s first two Euro 2024 matches.
“Bruno Fernandes is a top-class footballer and should play a starring role for Portugal, while Cristiano Ronaldo is still with the squad despite entering the twilight years of his career,” he said in his column for Sportskeeda.
“He’s still their captain and banging in the goals in Saudi Arabia, but I think they’ll see what he’s like in the camp and take a call on his selection.
“I would personally leave him out of the first two league games and get qualification sorted before bringing him back for the final encounter.
“If he plays well, he can keep his spot and that’s the right way to go about it as it’s a massive jump for someone to come into the European championships after playing at such a lesser standard in Saudi.”
Roberto Martinez stands by Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo retained the captain’s armband under Portugal manager Roberto Martinez, who replaced Fernando Santos as head coach in 2023.
Roberto Martinez has refused to downplay the influence of Ronaldo and has backed the Al Nassr skipper to play a key part in Portugal’s Euro 2024 campaign.
Speaking to UEFA’s official website, the Portugal boss said: “What surprised me about Cristiano is that he always defies his age.
“After every session, the technical staff and I will be amazed that a player who’s achieved everything, who could have the choice of what effort he puts in in training, is driven by winning, is obsessed by being the best, is obsessed about that perfection that he wants to achieve in his career. That’s contagious.”