‘We can play together,’ Ramos refuses to accept bench role behind Ronaldo

Abdullateef Fowewe

AC Milan striker, Gonçalo Ramos has affirmed his ambition to become a regular starter for Portugal, insisting he can form a successful partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo while expressing frustration over limited opportunities in recent major tournaments.

In a recent interview, the 25-year-old said, “I want to be a starter for Portugal. I’ve made it clear that if anyone deserves to play, It’s med. The coach and the entire country can see that.”

He added that the two forwards could share the pitch more often, “We respect Cristiano’s status, but I think we could play together more often. My good form and goals could be rewarded without dropping Cristiano.”

Ramos also reflected on his restricted role under previous coach Roberto Martínez.

“I have no resentment towards Roberto Martínez, but I lost EURO 2024. I only played 15 minutes against Georgia in a game that meant nothing. At the 2026 World Cup, I scored against Croatia but barely played after that. I know I could have helped a lot. I missed two major tournaments that will never come back.”

The comments come amid ongoing discussion around Portugal’s attacking options following Ronaldo’s abrupt departure from the national team camp during the recent Nations League window, which created space for Ramos to feature more prominently and score under new coach Jorge Jesus.

Ramos has indicated Ronaldo would still be welcomed back warmly by the squad.

Ramos first made a major international impact as a young Benfica forward when he scored a hat-trick on his World Cup start against Switzerland in 2022 after Ronaldo was dropped.

He later moved to Paris Saint-Germain before joining AC Milan. While he has shown strong form for Portugal in recent Nations League matches, his club performances at Milan this season have drawn mixed reviews, with some reports noting periods of isolation in the team’s attack.