“I cannot speak for Rafa. If it were me, it would speak for me. Only Rafa can explain. But like I said, I understand Rafa. If we do well at the club, we believe we can make it to the national team and play. As he said, it was for personal reasons, then the businessman said he wanted to focus 100% on Benfica. I think only Rafa can explain it in the best way,” Quaresma told the media before the start of the Quinas de Ouro gala, in Cidade do Futebol, in Oeiras.
On Monday, 29-year-old Rafa ended his career with the Portuguese national team after 25 caps for the first team, citing “personal reasons”.
However, the 80-times ‘quinas’ main team international and champion of Europe in 2016 confessed that he sees himself in his compatriot and explained why.
“I see myself [no Rafa] and I can even tell you that it occurred to me. When I was at FC Porto I was flying and I got to the national team and rarely played,” remembered.
On the other hand, the ‘complicated or less good moment’ of the ‘captain’ of the national team Cristiano Ronaldo, who has only scored one goal this season, was also addressed by Quaresma.
“It’s something I don’t worry about. He’s been through so much and has always managed to turn bad times around. I know him well and I know he will go back to what he was used to from us.” , concluded the winger, who turns 39 this month and is without a club after terminating his contract with Vitória de Guimarães.
Source: DN
