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This article forms part of our Profit Players feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how well a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how good of a deal the club managed to achieve.

When Newcastle United sold Ayoze Perez to Leicester City for £30.06m in last summer’s transfer window, it may have seemed a peculiar decision.

With a relatively impressive 13 goals and a further four assists in 41 games in all competitions in 2018/19, according to top scorer at the Tyneside club that season. Not only was Perez sold, but he was sold to a Premier League rival in the Foxes, therefore strengthening them and weakening the Magpies.

Bought for a mere £1.8m from Spanish club Tenerife in July 2014, perhaps nobody at St. James’ Park could have envisaged just how valuable a player Perez was to become in the northeast.

In a total of 148 matches over all competitions across five consecutive seasons for the Toon, the Spanish under-21 international scored 48 times and provided a further 17 assists, as per Transfermarkt.

However, in the 2019/20 campaign under Brendan Rodgers at the King Power Stadium, Perez only managed to net eight times (three of those in one game) and produce five assists in 40 appearances in all competitions (via the Transfermarkt), which is arguably a low return considering how much money was paid for him.

The market value of the 27-year old has also reached a peak of £27m, so considering that Newcastle sold him for £30.06m, making themselves a big 1670% profit on their initial outlay, it can be argued that they did great business in selling Perez last year.

Geordies, was selling Perez a great piece of business? Comment below with your views!

Having Marcelo Bielsa as your manager is something of a double-edged sword.

On one hand, he’s been lauded as the greatest coach in the world, and he can be absolutely brilliant, just look at Leeds’ promotion this season as a prime example.

However, the brilliance doesn’t often last long as the Argentine is often unwilling to stick around at a club, never staying anywhere for more than three years in his career so far, and actually developing a knack of leaving jobs prematurely, ditching Lazio after just two days and leaving Marseille after the first game of his second season.

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He’s only ever signed one-year deals at Leeds, so the concern has been there that he would leave, and this week we learned of United’s plans for if the worst-case scenario had occurred.

What’s been said then?

We’re at that time of year where Bielsa’s contract needs extending once again, and understandably this has been a point of discussion amongst the fanbase.

Phil Hay spoke on this matter on his podcast this week, and when doing so he spoke about United’s plan for if he walked away last term.

“I was told of two of the names of the list to replace him if he had gone. Because Leeds had to do a bit of due diligence, they had to pre-empt the possibility that he’d turn up one day and say ‘look I’ve had enough, I’m going back to Buenos Aires, thank you and goodbye.” He said (The Phil Hay Show 24/6/20 36:00)

“So two of the names on there were (Aitor) Karanka and (Slavisa) Jokanovic. Jokanovic had obviously gone up with Fulham and Karanka had gone up with Middlesbrough.”

Step down

Make no mistake, Karanka and Jokanovic are incredibly talented managers at this level, with three promotions between them, but you can’t help but feel this would be a drop in ambition compared to where Leeds were around the time Bielsa was appointed.

It’s not just about appointing Bielsa at that time, it’s the managers they were in the market for.

Claudio Ranieri was spoken to before Bielsa’s appointment, while Andrea Radrizzani has also stated that Leeds wanted Antonio Conte around that time.

Going from targeting someone touted as the best coach and two Premier League winners to two gaffers who aren’t quite at that level is a drop in ambition, and we can only hope that when Bielsa does leave, Leeds go for someone with a more impressive CV.

Everton really do need to fix their midfield this summer and whilst a swoop for Napoli’s Allan solves some of the problems, there’s still a huge creative void to be filled, enter an old name…

What’s the word?

According to Marca, the Toffees are an option for Real Madrid outcast James Rodriguez this summer, and despite Man Utd also being keen, it is thought that the Colombian international would garner more game time at Goodison Park.

It’s not the first time that the midfield playmaker has been mooted with a switch to Merseyside as Italian journalist Nicolo Schira claimed back in April that Rodriguez was one of Carlo Ancelotti’s top targets.

Meanwhile, reports in Spain have suggested that the 29-year-old could now be available on the cheap with Madrid wanting just €8.5m (£7.5m) to offload the star.

Creativity void

It is no secret in Merseyside that Ancelotti’s engine room was devoid of ideas – in Tom Davies you get a player not really suited to the system and in Andre Gomes, you’ve got a solid passer but not much else.

It speaks volumes when Morgan Schneiderlin, who has now departed for Nice, ranks first for tackles per game (2.1) of any Toffees midfielder and even worse, Gylfi Sigurdsson tops the midfield charts for key passes per match (1.5), via WhoScored.

These are two players that were seemingly behind both Davies and Gomes in the pecking order.

But with the club edging closer to Brazilian enforcer Allan, it’s time to take care of the attacking side of things, which is why a move for Rodriguez makes a ton of sense – even more so at just £7.5m.

Now, the 29-year-old hasn’t been in Zinedine Zidane’s plans this season but during a two-year loan spell at Bayern, he provided 15 goals and 17 assists, averaging no fewer than 2.6 key passes per game in the Bundesliga.

It was his form in Munich that had head coach Jupp Heynckes labelling him a “god-send” and that’s exactly what he could be at Goodison Park – there’s certainly going to be less pressure than at the Bernabeu.

Rodriguez was dubbed a “revelation” and a player who “oozes class” by Florentino Perez upon signing for Madrid, but things haven’t gone to plan so it’s time for Ancelotti to sack off Sigurdsson in favour of the 76-cap maestro.

AND in other news, Everton fans want one player to leave amid EXIT links…

Key information about Pirelli Stadium

Pirelli Stadium was built in 2005 and is now the home of Burton Albion. The stadium is located on Princess Way in Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire, which is also quite near where the club’s old Eton Park home was before it got demolished and replaced with new housing.

It has a capacity of 6,912 but only 2,034 of those are currently seated. The pitch measures 110 by 72 yards and is not surrounded by a running track while the surface is covered with natural grass.

The ground’s record attendance of 6,746 was set during an EFL Championship clash when the nearby Derby County came to visit.

A history of Pirelli Stadium

Despite serious investment of nearly £1m to bring their old ground, Eton Park, up to standards to match their ambition and rise both on and off the pitch, Burton Albion decided it was time to abandon the stadium and construct a new one worthy of their new image. For that reason, in 2003, the plans for the development of Pirelli Stadium were first announced and the proposal included an increase in capacity, a new training pitch to be available for community use and also the relocation of the Eton Park Bowling Club and Football Tavern.

In that proposal, it was also outlined that the old ground of Eton Park would be demolished and turned into new residential properties, which would also help them fund the new stadium along the way. Construction started in December 2003 by Burton firm Bison – who were also the club’s shirt sponsors at the time – and would finish in time for the 2004/05 campaign.

The first match to be played at the new ground was held on 16 July 2005 with a pre-season friendly against Chester City, a game the hosts ended up losing 1-0 in front of a crowd of 1,341. The first competitive clash arrived with a Football Conference fixture against Grays Athletic on 13 August 2005, ending in a 1-1 draw.

Still, it wouldn’t be until 14 November that same year that Pirelli Stadium would officially be opened – the cutting of the red ribbon included – once again with a friendly clash, this time against Manchester United in front of 6,065 people who witnessed the home side beat a young Red Devils team 2-1.

In 2006, the stadium’s capacity increased to 6,200 and a new electronic scoreboard, placed in the Eastern side of the South Stand, was installed, albeit for only that special occasion, not to be used again. Following some acts of vandalism in the following year, CCTV was installed around the perimeter of the ground and they also got a new electronic board prior to the 2008/09 season.

Some years later, in June 2009 and prior to the promotion to the Football League, they got the permission boost the capacity of the stadium by an additional 712 places and following that, they also funded a toucan pedestrian crossing on the adjacent Princess Way which was acknowledged with a renewal of the stadium’s safety certificate on 12 July 2010.

There were multiple proposals and plans to modernise the ground ever since but no major works have been done on the Pirelli Stadium in recent years. But that hasn’t stopped it from hosting various high-profile events such as the 2007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship elite qualification clash between the Czech Republic and the Netherlands and an England C European Challenge Trophy game against Netherlands C.

Tickets to watch Burton Albion at Pirelli Stadium

All tickets to watch Burton Albion at Pirelli Stadium can be purchased on the club’s official website. The cost of an adult ticket in the seated area is £24 but if you buy the ‘Earlybird’ one, you get a £4 discount.

Season tickets are also available for purchase on the aforementioned website.

Related links

https://www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk/ – Official website of Burton Albion

Whilst some clubs would absolutely love to bring in a striker like Charlie Austin, Aston Villa fans are all desperate to steer clear of the 29-year-old. The Telegraph has run a story that claims the striker could leave Southampton this month, and despite his Championship pedigree, the Villains want to miss out on this one.

In his career, Charlie Austin has proven to be a brilliant goalscorer at Championship level. In his time at both Burnley and QPR his lowest goal tally in a full season is 16 goals, which he managed in the 2011/12 season with the Clarets. However, whether he’s what’s needed at Villa Park is another question as entirely, as they already have the likes of JonathanÂKodjia and Tammy Abraham scoring the goals.

Instead, the Villains would rather go for a young player for the future who is preferably a defender. The fact that they already have goals flowing freely is brilliant, but stopping them at the other end is something that they’ve struggled with. Whilst Austin is no doubt a brilliant player, he wouldn’t be much use to Dean Smith as the Villa gaffer looks to tighten up his backline.

You can read the Villains’ verdict on Austin here:

The Villains are all in agreement that Austin is not what they need, although they’ll be keen to see maybe one more player come in before the end of the window.

The winger provided a match-winning assist in her first appearance following an 11-month lay-off as she aims to get back to her Euros-winning form

Even before Beth Mead stepped onto the pitch for her first Arsenal appearance in 11 months, even before she assisted England team-mate Alessia Russo’s late winner on her return from an ACL injury, the Emirates Stadium was buzzing with excitement. Whenever Mead warmed-up on the sideline, there were raucous cheers. When she started receiving tactical instructions moments before her long-awaited return, chants of ‘Meado, Meado’ echoed around the stadium. And when she finally set foot on that pitch in the 88th minute, the noise was deafening.

For a short period, it looked like Mead’s comeback wouldn’t come on Sunday. Arsenal trailed Aston Villa from the 25th minute, when Maz Pacheco capitalised on some poor defending from a set-piece to head the visitors in front. Try as they might, the Gunners just couldn’t find a way through the visiting defence. Their winless start to the new Women’s Super League season looked set to continue.

Would head coach Jonas Eidevall take this opportunity to put in Mead, a player who had been sidelined for almost a full year? It seemed more likely that someone with a bit more match-sharpness might be trusted to come on and change the game, especially as Mead hadn’t been seen warming up for some time.

But the 35,829 fans inside the Emirates would not leave disappointed on Sunday. Not only did they get to see the return of the 2022 Ballon d’Or runner-up – they also got to see her contribute to the most incredible turnaround. In the 88th minute, Mead came on. In the 92nd minute, Katie McCabe hammered home an equaliser. In the 94th minute, Mead teed up Russo to strike home the winner.

“Pretty amazing,” the England star told reporters afterwards, describing her feelings in the moment. “It’s been a long, long time coming. There have been a lot of hard days, a lot of good days. I think, ultimately, you want to do your job, you want to do something you love – and that had been taken away for such a long time. So to be able to get out there, with that type of reception from the fans, was pretty incredible.”

"She deserves that reception. She's worked so hard,” Eidevall added. “She's had a really difficult year, both being injured and her mum passed away. We know that it's been incredibly tough for her and it's so nice to see her back on the pitch, seeing her being able to perform straight away.

“You never know that. You have the hope, otherwise I would never have put her on, but you don't know it until you've seen it. That was very nice, so a special moment.”

Patience is certainly important with a player who had been out of action for 11 months, but the early signs show that Mead is on a positive path when it comes to getting back to her best. What impact could her return have for both club and her country?

Getty ImagesEnding Arsenal’s wait to win

It’s been a really tough start to the season for Arsenal. Knocked out in Women’s Champions League qualifying, that disappointment has had a knock-on effect in the Gunners’ start to the new WSL season, with Sunday’s maiden win coming at the third attempt after a shock defeat to Liverpool and a draw against Manchester United.

The north London club have not been helped by a short turnaround between the summer’s World Cup and those European games, with just 17 days between the two. Several players in Arsenal’s squad took their country to the final days of the tournament and balancing their requirement for time off with the need to return to club and gel with the new players – or gel as a new player, in many cases – has been tricky.

Throw in the long-term absences of Leah Williamson, Vivianne Miedema, Laura Wienroither and – until Sunday – Mead, and it’s no wonder the Gunners have looked a little out of sorts in these past few weeks.

To welcome back their star winger was a huge boost for the fanbase, then, and the lift that gave to the crowd was palpable. That energy certainly made an impact on the team as they managed to find two very late goals to win the game.

AdvertisementGettyEngland’s worries

It’s not only Mead’s club that has struggled in the last few weeks. England backed up their 2022 European Championship triumph with a run to the 2023 Women’s World Cup final in August, but since then, their Nations League campaign hasn’t got off to a great start.

There were a few problems that plagued the Lionesses during the World Cup – no natural left-back, a lack of real attacking spark and a formation change that suited some well and others less so. Sarina Wiegman’s side did brilliantly to overcome those obstacles to reach the final, but the problems have not just magically disappeared.

England need to top their group to qualify for the Nations League finals and, as a result, stand a chance of securing a spot at the Olympics for Team GB’s women’s football team. But after looking a little sloppy in their opening game, a narrow win over neighbours Scotland, they suffered a defeat in the Netherlands that puts them on the back foot early on. There is still no natural left-back, the attack still doesn’t look at its best and the formation is still a hot topic.

Even a fully fit Mead could not solve all of those problems, but the winger can certainly bring top quality in the attacking third already. We saw that on Sunday – as did Wiegman, who was in the stands at the Emirates to watch all the drama unfold.

Getty ImagesA change of shape?

Could Mead’s return have a significant impact on England’s formation, too? The 28-year-old is an out-and-out winger who thrives in those spaces. She can put excellent crosses into the box, she can drive inside and strike at goal and she has the goalscoring instincts to drift into central areas when the ball is on the opposite flank. These reasons, combined with her world-class talent, are why she racked up six goals and five assists in just six games at last year’s European Championship.

If she comes into England’s team now, though, in the 3-5-2 shape that Wiegman switched to during the World Cup, these qualities will not be maximised in the same way. Yes, Mead is adaptable and could be dangerous in a new role, but to get the best out of her then you want to play her out wide, not as a wing-back and not as part of a front two.

If she is called up for the Lionesses’ October squad, which will be announced on Tuesday, then it’s anticipated that any minutes in the upcoming games against Belgium will be from the bench. She’s only just come back, after all.

That will be a welcome boost, though, because those super-subs are something England have lacked since the likes of Russo and Ella Toone – who played those roles in the Euros in 2022 – have been integrated into the starting line-up.

But in the long-term, what does Mead’s comeback mean for Wiegman’s 3-5-2? With the formation not seeming to suit star midfielder Keira Walsh and it also lacking a natural place for Chloe Kelly, the in-form Manchester City winger, Mead could add to the case to revert back to 4-3-3.

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GettyIgniting Arsenal’s season

Mead’s main contributions upon her return to fitness are going to be for Arsenal, though, and the Gunners will be hopeful that Sunday’s match-winning input was a sign of things to come because their season absolutely needs igniting.

Was this win over Villa that moment? It certainly felt like it could be pivotal, not just because it was a first win but because of the manner in which it was achieved. It’ll give the players an almighty feeling to have done what they did in stoppage-time.

And Mead played a big part in that. In the 94th minute, the way she darted past one defender and into the box dragged any attention away from Russo, who was waiting patiently on the edge. Suddenly swarmed by several Villa defenders, her quick pass back to the England striker was the wise decision and the strike, while it should’ve been saved by Daphne van Domselaar, won the game.

“For those of you who were here [on the opening weekend], how many times did Liverpool block shots from us in the box?” Eidevall asked those in the Emirates’ press conference room afterwards, referring to that shock defeat to the Reds. “It's such a massive part of it to say, to understand and to have that understanding: ‘Is my shot going to be blocked in this situation? And do we need another pass to set up the team?’

“And Beth Mead, she's extremely good. She's extremely intuitive in those moments. But that's what I mean when I say, ‘Will she get that straight away?’ Sometimes you don't, but she does, obviously, because she’s Beth Mead. And we’re happy about that.”

France boss Didier Deschamps says Warren Zaire-Emery has a "big sprain'" on his ankle after an "incredibly violent" challenge on the teenager.

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Zaire-Emery scores on France debutForced off with ankle injury early onDeschamps issues update on PSG aceGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The 17-year-old experienced the highs and lows of representing his country for the first time as he scored and got injured inside the opening 20 minutes of France's 14-0 win over 10-man Gibraltar on Saturday in Nice.

The Paris Saint-Germain star became the nation's youngest goalscorer since 1914 when he swept in his side's third after 16 minutes. However, as he connected with the ball, Ethan Santos clattered into him. The teenager was unable to continue and Santos was sent off in the 18th minute. After the match, Deschamps delivered an injury update on the midfielder.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT DESCHAMPS SAID

He said: "Tonight, it's a perfect evening, except for the injury to Warren Zaire-Emery. It's not very serious. According to the information I have, the examinations are reassuring. There is no fracture but a big sprain after a gesture of incredible violence."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

PSG will hope Zaire-Emery's injury is not too serious as they face Monaco in Ligue 1 on Friday. The teenager has become an important player for the Paris outfit this season and his absence would be keenly felt in their midfield.

Incidentally, France's win was the biggest in European Championship qualification history, eclipsing Germany's previous record of 13-0 against San Marino in 2006.

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WHAT NEXT FOR FRANCE?

France round off their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign against Greece on Tuesday. They top their group with seven wins from seven so far.

Jadon Sancho will reportedly push for a transfer away from Manchester United in January after holding showdown talks with Erik ten Hag.

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Winger dropped for Arsenal gameClaims to have been made a scapegoatReady to take on a new challengeWHAT HAPPENED?

It is suggested that the working relationship between the England international winger and his demanding Dutch coach has completely broken down at Old Trafford. With there seemingly no way back, a move that suits all parties will be sought when the next window opens.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Ten Hag dropped Sancho from his matchday plans for a Premier League trip to Arsenal. He stated that performances in training were behind that decision. Sancho hit back in a statement of his own, with the 23-year-old forward claiming to have been made a “scapegoat”.

DID YOU KNOW?

Talks have been held between Sancho and his club boss, with the reporting that a parting of ways now appears to be inevitable. A loan deal in January is considered to be the most likely option, with that agreement including the option for a permanent transfer to be pushed through in the summer of 2024.

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Any switch will bring a forgettable spell at United to a close for Sancho. On the back of his £75 million ($94m) arrival from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund in 2021, the highly-rated wideman has registered just 12 goals through 82 appearances and lost his place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.

The Lionesses have lost just once under the Dutchwoman, who has led teams to three successive finals at major tournaments, winning two of them

It’s late June and England’s Lionesses are talking to the press in the traditional whole-squad media day that takes place before each major tournament. As a handful of journalists huddle around Georgia Stanway, there are a lot of questions about Germany, the midfielder having just won the Bundesliga title in her first season with Bayern Munich.

But when one journalist asks if England head coach Sarina Wiegman might tap into her expertise should the two nations meet in the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup, Stanway is dismissive.

“To be fair, Sarina probably knows everything already,” she says. “She probably knows more than me. She’s a genius that way.” It’s a response that sums up the way the Dutchwoman is viewed by the players she is taking to Australia.

There are a lot of fantastic coaches at this tournament but Wiegman, three times named the Best FIFA Women's Coach, is right up there – and there are a lot of reasons why that is the case.

GettyPlenty of pedigree

After a playing career that brought her 99 international caps, Wiegman took up her first coaching role at the age of 37 with Ter Leede, her first full season with the club ending with a league and cup double. Her time with ADO Den Haag in the newly-formed Eredivisie brought her three more major titles, before the Dutch Football Association came calling.

Wiegman would assist the senior national team, coordinate the Under-19s side and be interim head coach across three years, before finally landing the top job in January 2017 – six months before her country were set to host the European Championship.

The Oranje were not in a good place. Recent results had been poor and morale was low, but Wiegman quickly set about her work and it paid off in the most remarkable fashion. The Netherlands had only played at three major tournaments in the history of the women’s team, but at Euro 2017, they won every single game to be crowned European champions on home soil.

It was an achievement that thrust Wiegman into the limelight and one she has backed up massively in the last few years. In 2019, she led the Netherlands to a World Cup final on their second-ever appearance at the tournament.

Then, in 2021, she took charge of England and would be unbeaten in her first 30 matches with the Lionesses, winning the Euros and the Finalissima in that time. After so many semi-final defeats, the nation is now fully established on the world stage.

AdvertisementGettyGetting the best from her players

So, what makes Wiegman so great? So many players cite her as being able to get the best out of her players. But how does she do it?

“She's always pushing us, whether that's on the pitch, off the pitch, in meetings and things like that,” explained winger Lauren Hemp. “I feel like for me personally, I'm always learning. There's always something that I don't know that she's bringing to the table, that she's explaining to me. I never go into a training session where I don't feel like I'm getting something out of it.

“She knows exactly what she wants and she's always pushing us to be that bit better. Like, 'Yeah, that's the level now but now you need to get higher than that'. We're always pushing on and wanting to do better and Sarina is the driver of that.”

“I think it’s her directness,” said Chelsea defender Jess Carter. “[She and her staff] have a way they want to play and we all get on board with that. It makes it easier going out onto the pitch.

“When we are trying to get different players from different squads to gel together, she’s like, ‘This is how we want to play, these are our values’. It’s that directness. She knows what she wants and she lets us know that really well.”

“What you see is what you get,” added Ella Toone. “Direct but just a leader and someone who is very caring and wants the best for each of us. She really pushes us to be the best. I think the main thing Sarina always says is to make sure we enjoy ourselves.”

GettyWilling to be challenged

Another thing that defender Lucy Bronze highlighted when talking about Wiegman, though, was how the players also have an input on what she wants. She might be concise and to the point – but those points can change.

“They are both very open to being challenged, whether that’s from each other or us,” Bronze said, talking about the head coach and her assistant, Arjan Veurink. “They’re always open to hearing what you have to say.

“Sarina is very head-strong and she knows what she wants and she knows what she likes to do, but at the same time she’s very open to hearing opinions and other experiences. For me personally, that’s what I’ve got out of working with the pair of them.”

Given the experience within this England squad – featuring a four-time Champions League winner like Bronze, four players who just did a league and cup double with Chelsea, and Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway, who both just won titles abroad this past season – that’s a real positive.

Why would you not want players like that contributing to the way the team is set up?

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GettyPart of a fantastic duo

It’s not just about Wiegman herself, though. It’s also about the people that she has surrounded herself with.

The main man alongside the Dutchwoman is Veurink, who used to stand in the opposition dugout for Twente and battle Wiegman for titles. The pair have since struck up a formidable partnership on the international stage, winning the Euros in 2017 and reaching the 2019 World Cup final before moving to England together.

“He’s a great guy – very reserved,” said defender Alex Greenwood. “I really get on with him. He loves football as much as I do and his knowledge of the game is incredible. The way he sees the game is similar to the way I see it, so most of our conversation is just about tactics and football and disagreements and agreements on what we think the game should be played like. He’s so important to this team.”

“He thinks he’s quite funny,” Carter added. “He thinks he’s a jokester. I think he’s great. He and Sarina work really well together – but I think all of our staff do.”

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is a living legend, but only a select few staunch supporters still believe he deserves to lead the Seleccao attack

Cristiano Ronaldo's continued presence in the Portugal squad is not a surprise. One of the first things new manager Roberto Martinez did after taking over in January was fly to Saudi Arabia to meet with the iconic No.7.

Unlike some of the other candidates for the position created by Fernando Santos' post-World Cup dismissal, the Spaniard was willing right from the get-go to include Ronaldo in his Euro 2024 qualification campaign.

The question now, though, is whether Ronaldo will start up front at what is meant to be the dawn of a new era for the Seleccao?

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Of course, given the standard of the opposition this week – Portugal host Liechtenstein on Thursday before travelling to Luxembourg on Sunday – it likely won't matter who leads the line. Portugal should easily win both fixtures. If Ronaldo starts at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, it would not be a surprise to see him add to his record haul of international goals.

However, there is no denying that Goncalo Ramos should be Portugal's first-choice No.9 right now.

Getty ImagesGoncalo Ramos: A star is born

Ronaldo may still be scoring in Saudi Arabia, but Benfica forward Ramos is starring in the Champions League, having just fired his club into the quarter-finals with a brace against Club Brugge.

In total this season, he has 24 goals in 36 appearances for Roger Schmidt's hugely impressive side, and at 21 years of age, he is the future of Portuguese football, the forward around whom the Seleccao need to construct an attack to make the most out of an outstanding crop of players.

The World Cup proved that, in scintillating fashion. After replacing Ronaldo in the starting line up for the last-16 clash with Switzerland, Ramos ran riot, becoming the first Portuguese player to score a hat-trick in the knockout stages since Eusebio in 1966.

He also chipped in with an assist during a performance of all-round excellence made all the more remarkable for the fact that Ramos had played just 33 minutes of international football going into the game in Lusail.

On a night when it was made abundantly clear to even some of his staunchest supporters that Ronaldo's star was fading, another was born.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe collapse of Santos & Ronaldo's relationship

Of course, Ramos and the rest of the Seleccao's stellar attack were kept quiet in the quarter-finals by a Morocco side that had also shut out Croatia, Belgium and Spain in Qatar, but they obviously weren't the story in Doha.

That was Ronaldo storming down the tunnel as soon as the full-time whistle blew at the Al Thumama Stadium, the final act of pathetic petulance from a player that had caused one distraction after another during the World Cup.

The collapse of Ronaldo's relationship with manager Santos was the cause of huge surprise back home in Portugal. He was one of the very, very few players not to publicly express his gratitude to Santos after his dismissal, which was truly shocking.

After all, the former coach had afforded the forward a huge amount of influence – and leeway – during his tenure, as perhaps most memorably highlighted by Ronaldo effectively serving as an assistant coach during the Euro 2016 final, leaving his seat on the bench after being forced off through injury to instruct players from the touchline.

It was even rumoured that Ronaldo had a say in squad selections. The pair were considered to be working that closely together.

Getty ImagesRonaldo benched by club and country

Santos certainly indulged Ronaldo in Qatar, at least initially.

When he rested all of his best players in the final group-stage clash with South Korea, with Portugal already through to the next round, he started Ronaldo. Why? Because Ronaldo always wants to play, and to score, and to break records – which, in fairness, is what he's done throughout his career.

However, it was clear to everyone that Ronaldo needed a rest more than anyone else, after two sub-standard showings, against Ghana and Uruguay.

The hope was that Ronaldo, rusty after being benched at Manchester United for the majority of the run-up to the World Cup, might play his way into form.

Instead, he just got worse, even contributing to South Korea's equaliser at the Education City Stadium. Santos' decision to substitute him midway through the second half actually felt like an act of mercy.

Ronaldo most definitely didn't take it that way, though. "You're always in such a f*cking hurry to take me off," he quite clearly said to himself as he exited the pitch.

Santos, having not seen the TV footage, initially defended his captain. However, after it had been passed on to him by his son via WhatsApp, he responded in the only way he could: by benching Ronaldo.

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GettyAchievements over ability

In a way, Ronaldo's show of insubordination had given Santos an excuse to drop the struggling striker, and Martinez could have used the World Cup debacle to bring an end to the circus, but has instead opted to keep the (sh*t)show on the road.

The former Belgium boss has publicly stated that he doesn't "look at age" when it comes to selecting squads, which is the definition of fair. If you're good enough, you're both old and young enough. It works both ways.

However, it was perhaps telling that after calling up Ronaldo for his first squad, Martinez championed the 38-year-old's "experience" rather than his goalscoring prowess.

It certainly didn't go unnoticed in the Portuguese press. For the first time in Ronaldo's career, it appeared that he had been included more for his achievements than his ability.

Again, that is hardly unacceptable. Ronaldo has literally seen and done it all. He should, in theory, be a hugely positive figure on younger players, although it certainly didn't pan out that way at Old Trafford.

Nonetheless, there are plenty of supporters that still believe Ronaldo has a role to play for Portugal – just off the bench, rather than as a starter.

Despite his childish behaviour in Qatar – during one training session, he refused to speak to anyone, including his most trusted colleague Pepe – there rightly remains a colossal amount of respect for a living legend like Ronaldo, particularly among his team-mates.

In recent years, some have privately conceded that Portugal play better without an increasingly static Ronaldo up front – yet acknowledged that his mere presence on the pitch petrified opponents.

That fear factor is now gone, though. The World Cup saw to that – and it also became clear in Qatar that Bruno Fernandes is the new leader of this Portuguese side.