Ronaldo’s son’s sanction and pair’s ‘humiliating’ chat before call-up | Football | Sport

Cristiano Ronaldo Jr is undoubtedly set to follow in his father’s footsteps. The 15-year-old has received a call-up to the Portugal U16 squad as he progresses through the international youth system, mirroring his father’s journey.

Although Ronaldo represented various Portugal youth teams before his senior debut in 2003, he never featured for the U16 side. His son now enjoys the privilege of doing so in the forthcoming Football Federations Cup. The teenager, who features in Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr’s academy, was amongst 22 players selected for the tournament, set to commence in Antalya, Turkey, between October 30 and November 4.

Cristiano Jr remains in the early stages of what could develop into a flourishing football career, though he can rely on his father avoiding excessive pressure. The 40-year-old previously revealed to former Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand: “Right in this moment, Cristiano wants to be a football player but I don’t make big pressure, I make a little. He has pressure already to be the son of Cristiano [senior].”

Elements of the father-son relationship have unfolded publicly, including sporting sanctions the young Ronaldo has faced and instances when silence existed between them.

Spot-kick punishments

Ronaldo has consistently displayed the gymnasium sessions and football training he undertakes with his eldest son, and the Al-Nassr icon maintains his standards even when it involves his own child.

An expert from the penalty spot, Ronaldo has sought to enhance his son’s abilities from 12 yards and in a social media clip from nine years ago, he instructed a then 5-year-old Ronaldo Jr: “If you don’t score, you have to do 10 push-ups,” before offering his son three attempts to convert a penalty.

Following a miss on his initial effort, he came closer when striking the post on his second go and triumphed with his final spot-kick, which he converted. Despite finding the net, Ronaldo still demanded his son complete the press-up penalty with Ronaldo Jr insisting: “But I scored,” before being instructed: “Do them [the push-ups] anyway. Come on, only 10.”

Communication failure

Amongst his numerous extraordinary qualities that have seen Ronaldo join the exclusive group of players considered amongst the finest footballers in history, his competitive nature certainly ranks highly. It was during a discussion with former teammate and Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand on his UR Cristiano YouTube channel, that he disclosed it’s a trait that has been inherited by Cristiano Jr.

Ronaldo acknowledged that his son shares his hatred of defeat, as he explained: “I was in the Red Sea a couple of days ago, and I played paddle every day, me and Cristiano Jr., and we got mad,” the 40-year-old revealed. He added: “He won’t speak with me for like, two days. This is why I’m happy. Even the small one, Mateo, they are at peace (when they are angry), but I like this, it shows they have personality.”

Manchester United ending

Cristiano Jr was born a year after his father departed Manchester United for Real Madrid, but was able to witness the affection the Red Devils supporters still held for the Portuguese superstar upon his return to Old Trafford in 2021. In what proved to be a dream-like second debut campaign for Ronaldo, who netted 24 goals in 38 appearances, his second and ultimate season turned into a nightmare amid his deteriorating relationship with then-boss Erik Ten Hag.

Prior to his contract being mutually terminated in November 2022, Ronaldo was barred from participating in a fixture against Chelsea following his outburst against Tottenham Hotspur. The forward declined to enter as a substitute in the closing moments against Spurs, before marching down the tunnel and leaving the ground before the final whistle.

It was during his explosive interview with Piers Morgan on Talk TV that Ronaldo revealed how Cristiano Jr responded upon discovering the circumstances surrounding his father’s suspension, confessing it left him feeling “humiliated”.

He recounted to Morgan: “I remember arriving home and Cristiano see me and say, ‘Daddy do you not go to the game?’ I say, ‘No, because the club punish me with three days’. And then he said, ‘How are they going to punish you if you are the best player in the world and you’re not gonna play?’ I said, ‘No I’m not gonna play because I have not been behave’. And he look at me like, ‘My Daddy not behave, what?”