Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has given his backing to Ronaldo, stating he had not considered dropping the out-of-form striker.
“Other teams don’t have anyone like Ronaldo and are green with envy of Brazil,” Parreira said in Montevideo ahead of Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.
“We have him, yet we’ve been putting him down for some time.”
Ronaldo’s form has suffered lately with reports of rows with Real Madrid coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo.
Parreira denied that Ronaldo was untouchable in the team.
“If I have to take him off, I will,” said Parreira. “But I think I ought to keep him on the field for everything that he is.”
“I’ve been keeping an eye on Ronaldo and I haven’t seen him at an low ebb, or walking around with his head down. I think he just wants to get through this bad patch and go back to being the player that the world admires.”
