Ex-Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel blasts Cristiano Ronaldo

Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has hit out at Al-Nassr striker Cristiano Ronaldo for walking out on the Portuguese national team. 

Ronaldo found himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons after leaving the Portuguese camp acrimoniously during the last international break. 

The 41-year-old cut his time short following a disagreement with Portugal’s new coach, Jorge Jesus. 

Ronaldo had accused the former Benfica coach of lying and not respecting him after he was dropped for Portugal’s UEFA Nations League Clash against Norway last month. 

Although he has since apologised after explaining his reasons for leaving, Mikel believes Ronaldo has tainted his legacy with the Portuguese national team following his decision to walk out on his teammate. 

Speaking on his ObiOne Podcast, the former Chelsea midfielder said Ronaldo should have never left the team’s camp, as it sets a bad example. 

“The last thing you will do is to walk out of your national team or your football club as a captain, as someone everybody looks up to. It just takes away everything you stand for. I don't care what deal he had with the manager or not,” Mikel said. 

Mikel also defended Jesus from criticism after Ronaldo said he had an agreement with the coach over his playing time. The ex-Super Eagles captain said Ronaldo should know a manager’s job is to win football games and can go back on his agreement. 

A manager is there to win football matches. And they won football matches without you. What he's done now, I think he's just tainted his legacy a little bit because now he's come out; he's apologized, the Portuguese FA is saying they might look at maybe suspension,” he added. 

Despite the criticism, however, Mikel insists Ronaldo should be celebrated, saying the Al-Nassr forward has given so much to football. 

“We should be celebrating Cristiano Ronaldo now towards the end of his career. We shouldn't be talking about this. He's given so much to football. Even if you are not a Cristiano Ronaldo fan, you cannot deny what he's done for the game,” Mikel said.