Former Celt Sutton Blasts Ronaldo

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has delivered one of the strongest verdicts of the World Cup so far, tearing into Cristiano Ronaldo following Portugal’s 1-0 elimination at the hands of Spain.

Speaking after the defeat, Sutton claimed the Portuguese superstar looked like he was “moving like a grandad,” arguing that Ronaldo no longer provides the mobility, pressing or unpredictability required at the highest level of international football.

Sutton didn’t hold back in suggesting Ronaldo’s place in the side had become untouchable because of his reputation rather than his performances. In his view, Portugal’s insistence on building the team around the 41-year-old ultimately damaged their chances of progressing further in the tournament.

The former Celtic striker reserved just as much criticism for Portugal manager Roberto Martínez. Sutton branded the Spaniard “weak” and accused him of bowing to Ronaldo’s status instead of making the difficult decisions that every elite manager must be prepared to make. He also questioned Martínez’s decision to leave younger attacking options on the bench while continuing to rely on his captain.

In perhaps his most cutting assessment, Sutton described Portugal as a “circus,” claiming the constant focus on Ronaldo had overshadowed the rest of a talented squad. He argued that the combination of Ronaldo’s influence and Martínez’s reluctance to move on had cost Portugal any realistic chance of lifting the World Cup.

Reports have since indicated that Martínez has stepped down as Portugal manager, adding further attention to Sutton’s outspoken comments in the aftermath of the defeat.

Whether supporters agree with every word or not, Sutton has built a reputation for saying exactly what he believes rather than taking the safe option. It is the same forthright approach that made him such a popular figure during his time at Celtic and has helped establish him as one of football’s most uncompromising pundits.

His latest verdict will undoubtedly divide opinion, but one thing is certain: Sutton believes football should always come before reputation, no matter how great the player involved.

Do you agree with Chris Sutton’s assessment, or do you think his criticism of Ronaldo went too far?