Portugal's head coach has said he was surprised by Cristiano Ronaldo's decision to retire, according to Banglanews24. The reaction came as Portuguese football adjusts to the end of Ronaldo's international career.
The squad announcement that followed was Portugal's first since Ronaldo stepped away, and it brought widespread changes, The Daily Star Bangla reported. Ronaldo's Portugal record includes his debut, goals, a hat-trick and the captaincy, Prothom Alo noted in a profile of his career.
The departure has also drawn comment from outside the national set-up. Jose Mourinho said he hopes Ronaldo's exit from football does not take the shape it has, bdnews24.com reported. Kaler Kantho reported that Portugal had considered a farewell match in the manner of Lionel Messi's, but that Ronaldo declined the idea.
Ronaldo's retirement closes a long chapter for the national side, and the first post-Ronaldo squad list indicates selectors are already reshaping the team. The coach's remarks, as carried by Banglanews24, suggest the decision was not one he had expected at this point.
What to watch next: how Portugal's revamped squad performs in its first matches without Ronaldo, and whether the farewell plans reported by Kaler Kantho are revisited.
