“The headlines are always about him”- Cristiano Ronaldo won’t be affected by recent interview controversy during 2022 FIFA World Cup, says Portuguese teammate
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Portuguese player Joao Mario is adamant that Cristiano Ronaldo’s negative criticism of Manchester United would not have an impact on his country’s quest for World Cup success in Qatar. After allegedly saying he wanted to leave Old Trafford during the transfer window, Ronaldo has had a terrible season, starting just four Premier League games and scoring just once.
Ronaldo’s future at Manchester United is once again in jeopardy after he decided to give an explosive interview to Piers Morgan. He had already been briefly excluded from first-team activities by Erik ten Hag after refusing to appear as a substitute against Tottenham last month.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner stated in early snippets from the interview that United “betrayed” him and that he has no respect for Ten Hag. This month, Ronaldo will likely begin his fifth and last World Cup campaign, and Joao Mario, a fellow international, does not think that Portugal will suffer as a result of the 37-year-old’s entourage.
“I don’t see a problem with the timing, so it’s fine for us,” Joao Mario said at a press conference on Tuesday. “I don’t think it puts further pressure on him or on us. We’re used to dealing with great pressure. It’s not the first time that a player comes to the national team having a problem with his club. One of the advantages is that we put everything to the side when we are here.”
“When we get to the national team, it’s another working group and we try to focus on what’s most important. The headlines are always about him. Honestly, every time we come to the national team, the first questions asked are always about Ronaldo. The focus is always on him, and we are used to that.”
Mario believes Cristiano Ronaldo will set all his differences aside and concentrate on the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar
Mario also claimed that Ronaldo is always cheerful while representing the Portuguese national team. “He is always happy when he is with national team. I saw him yesterday and he is fine, as always when he arrives here. He is totally focused on the national team and he is going to be a big help for us at the World Cup.”
Portugal face Nigeria in a pre-tournament friendly on Thursday before facing Ghana in their Group H opener on November 24. Ronaldo, who has already scored in the 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 World Cups, could make history in Qatar by becoming the first player to score in five different World Cups.
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Sujeeth Shetty
(766 Articles Published)