The captain of the Portuguese football team, Cristiano Ronaldo, said today that his open conflict with Manchester United “will not shake” his selection at the World Cup in Qatar.
Ronaldo explained at the press conference that “there is no doubt that this recent episode, that is, the interview” on British television where he said that United had “betrayed” him, “like other episodes that sometimes happen, they can shake the player, but will not shake the team”.
Manchester United said on Friday it had taken “appropriate steps” in response to Ronaldo’s controversial interview in which the Portuguese criticized coach Erik ten Hag, his teammates, and the club’s owners.
Ronaldo denied having any problem with club and national team teammate Bruno Fernandes.
– I have a great relationship with him. His plane was delayed and I asked him if he came by boat, I joked with him – said Ronaldo.
– There is always room for rumors, I know that… But the atmosphere is really great. Talk to the other players about the World Cup, not about Cristiano Ronaldo – he concluded after a press conference that lasted 22 minutes and was held entirely in Portuguese.
The Portugal captain is playing in his fifth and most likely last World Cup and may become the first player in history to score in five different World Cups.
Portugal opens the World Cup on Thursday with a match against Ghana, while Uruguay and South Korea are also in Group H.
