Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo joined the Portugal squad for their World Cup preparations in Qatar, as he will look to inspire them to glory in the tournament which kicks-off this weekend. However, the Portuguese captain arrived after creating a thunderstorm by giving an interview to Piers Morgan wherein he slammed his current club employers Manchester United, as well as manager Erik ten Hag.

The comments made by the United forward are some serious after he accused Ten Hag of not respecting him, and the club’s owners wanting to get rid of him. It has caused a massive outburst at Old Trafford, with ESPN reporting many of the club’s players are enraged with the 37-year-old’s antics of an unauthorised interview. It was evident as well, with Ronaldo’s club country teammate Bruno Fernandes giving him a ‘frosty handshake’ after linking up with the Portuguese team in Qatar.

Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United teammates are ‘furious’ with his interview, according to multiple reports. Credits: Twitter

Joao Mario clears the air about Cristiano Ronaldo-Bruno Fernandes incident

Cristiano Ronaldo lashed out with all his anger at Manchester United, as there have been some conflicts between the two. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner hasn’t have had a good relationship with new Man United manager Erik ten Hag, as the Dutchman has benched him for majority of the season so far. Moreover, ever since Ronaldo’s Tottenham tantrums, where he refused to come on as a substitute and left the stadium even before the game ended, snubbing Ten Hag’s post match briefing for a second time, his equation with the manager further sustained a dent.

Ronaldo took out all his frustration in the interview with Morgan, wherein he claimed Ten Hag has no respect for him, and he as well shares the same sentiment for the United manager. He also slammed the club owners, who along with the coach according to him want him gone. The interview reportedly has United fuming, as well as some of the club’s senior players too, who are ‘furious’ with the 37-year-old’s another of antics coming at the very wrong time.

A Ronaldo-less United team headed into the World Cup break with a narrow 2-1 win over Fulham, as Alejandro Garnacho scored the winner in the dying minutes of the game. However, the former Juventus forward’s shocking interview made all the headlines, much to the anger of his club mates. One of them is Bruno Fernandes, who was apparently seen giving his captain a drab greeting on reuniting at the national camp. But Joao Mario has cleared the air as he explained what exactly happened between the two. He said:

“I was in the locker room at that moment, I saw the pictures, it was a joke between them curiously because Bruno [Fernandes] was one of the last to arrive and Cristiano [Ronaldo] asked if he had come by boat (laughs). It was a joke between them, they play together.”

On the timing of the United icon’s interview, the Benfica midfielder further added:

“There’s not much to say about that. When we get to the national team it’s another working group we try to focus on what’s most important. We’re all used to dealing with great pressure, I don’t think this brings more pressure to anyone. Whenever I come to the national team, the first questions are almost all about him, it’s not news to anyone. He’s always happy at the Selecao, yesterday too. It’s a pleasure to be here, he’s totally focused on the squad. Timing? For us it’s the same, I don’t see a problem with timing.”

While Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal teammate Joao Mario has played down the rumours of a tiff between the two Man United players, there would certainly be a contingent of the Red Devils’ players who might be unhappy with the former Real Madrid forward’s comments. But for Ronaldo and United, the relationship looks all but over as the 37-year-old is not expected to don the Red shirt ever again post the World Cup.