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Portugal coach upset with Ronaldo's actions vs. South Korea
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal during a match between South Korea and Portugal. Sports Press Photo

Portugal coach upset with Ronaldo's actions vs. South Korea, won't confirm status vs. Switzerland

Portugal coach Fernando Santos isn't happy with Cristiano Ronaldo due to how he acted after being substituted during last Friday's group stage loss to South Korea at the World Cup.

According to ESPN's Rob Dawson, Santos wouldn't confirm whether the star forward would be playing in the team's round of 16 match against Switzerland on Tuesday. Dawson wrote Monday morning that when Ronaldo was subbed out in the 65th minute of Friday's 2-1 defeat, he looked "visibly frustrated," and cameras caught him seeming to say "he's in a rush to sub me."

As he was exiting the pitch, Ronaldo was involved in a "verbal altercation" with South Korea's Cho Gue-Sung.

Santos said he was "too far" and "didn't hear anything" from the incident between Ronaldo and Gue-Sung, but he did see video footage of the 37-year-old's reaction to being subbed.

"I didn't like it. Didn't like it at all. From there, it's things you sort out internally," the coach said.

Per Dawson, Santos said that he and Ronaldo held "clear-the-air talks," but still wouldn't say for sure if he would be playing on Tuesday.

The latest uncertainties come as rumors and reports continue to swirl regarding Ronaldo potentially joining the Saudi Arabian club, Al-Nassr FC. It was reported last week that the striker had agreed to a $207 million per year deal with the group and on Monday, multiple reports indicated that Ronaldo was planning to sign a two-and-a-half year deal possibly worth $200 million per season.

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