It remains in the spotlight. Cristiano Ronaldo appeared unannounced at the Portuguese footballers’ press conference before the start of the World Cup in Qatar to blunt the effects of his controversial interview with British journalist Piers Morgan. Last week he leaned heavily on his current employer Manchester United.
Footage of the meeting of the national team, where teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes shake hands and do not look very happy, the Portuguese fans disturbed before the start of the championship.
Fernandes then denied any controversy and Ronaldo has now tried to do the same, confirming the version that it was just a joke.
The 37-year-old Ronaldo came to a surprise press conference on Monday.
“They are made of iron and bulletproof,” he declared to the clamor, but urged journalists to stop asking other Portuguese footballers about him and his situation, who will concentrate exclusively on Thursday’s first duel of the basic group, in which the Portuguese await Ghana.
The famed gunner also responded to criticism of the inappropriate timing of his explosive interview.
“There’s always a timing. From your point of view, it’s easy to judge. Sometimes you write the truth, sometimes you write lies. I don’t care what other people think. I speak when I feel like it. Everyone knows who I am and in what I believe” Ronaldo said.
The Funchal, Madeira native, who has struggled for the Red Devils since his arrival in August and lost his place in the starting lineup, said in an interview with TalkTV last week that he feels betrayed by Manchester United, lacks compared to coach Erik ten Hag and thinks that the American owners, the Glazers, don’t care about the club.
He has criticized the Red Devils’ young players for the approach and has also leaned on club legends Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville for criticizing him in recent weeks.
The club has so far only responded to the media outlet with a vague statement. He is said to be assessing the situation, but British media are already speculating that Manchester will want to terminate Ronaldo’s contract in the winter transfer window.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner doesn’t want to worry about the club’s future at all and is open to any option.
“It’s difficult to talk about it now because we are focused on the World Cup. Obviously it’s my last, my fifth. What will happen next, I don’t know. But in any case, the United fans will always be in my heart,” said Ronaldo.
Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea await the Portuguese in the basic round of the World Cup.
