Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed he is fully ‘committed and focused’ on Portugal’s World Cup campaign in the wake of his explosive interview blasting Manchester United....CONTINUE READING
There have been concerns that such scrutiny over his future and the fallout from his interview may act as a distraction from his World Cup campaign.
However, the Portugal captain was keen to stress he is focused on trying to help his country win the World Cup.
On Instagram he posted: “Good energies, good feelings, the same commitment and the same concentration that we put into each challenge. Focus! Determination! Belief! Wherever we are, Portugal, always!”
The 37-year-old is expected to be involved for Portugal against Ghana in their World Cup opener on Thursday.
United want Ronaldo out after his extraordinary TV interview with Piers Morgan in which he claimed he’d been ‘betrayed’ by the club.
United hope their strong relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes can help them terminate the Portuguese superstar’s contract rather than the alternative of firing him for breach of contract.
United are looking to terminate Ronaldo’s contract seven months early without paying any of the £16million he is predicted to earn by June 2023.
The club believe Ronaldo has violated his terms of employment with his criticism of the club’s US owners, manager Erik ten Hag, the club’s facilities, his teammates and former Red Devils players including Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville.
Bernardo Silva insisted their captain’s bombshell statement wasn’t a distraction, he stressed Portugal aren’t a one-man team, underlined by defeating Nigeria 4-0 in their final warm-up match last week without Ronaldo.
‘This is a different generation. Nearly all the players have changed in the last eight years and they play in the best leagues for the best clubs,’ said Bernardo.
When Cristiano is not there, the national team has known how to respond. We are 26 players and it doesn’t matter if there’s one or the other.
We’ve shown that not only in the last game but also in qualification. I see him motivated and focused on our selection like all of us.
