Mueez Ajao
– Cristiano Ronaldo is “always happy” on international duty despite his problems at club level, Portugal team-mate Joao Mario has insisted.
– Ronaldo’s outbursts against Manchester United, who he has accused of betraying him, have threatened to overshadow Portugal’s World Cup preparations.
– But Benfica midfielder Mario said the saga will not affect the national team.
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– “Everyone always speaks about Cristiano, so it’s fine for us,” the 29-year-old said.
– “He’s always happy when he is in the national team – I saw him yesterday and he was quite fine as always.
– “As he has said before, for him it is always a pleasure to be here. I do not believe that the interview adds more pressure on him or anyone else.”
🗣 "He's always happy when he's with the national team."
João Mário believes Cristiano Ronaldo is solely focused on the Portugal national team and is in high spirits pic.twitter.com/MLKq3p1nP1
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 15, 2022
– Ronaldo’s awkward-looking handshake with club and country colleague Bruno Fernandes on Monday sparked rumours of a rift between the pair.
Same energy 🥶#Ronaldo #Fernandes #Portugal #CR7 pic.twitter.com/BBVhYTMni6pic.twitter.com/jNclcHznT1
— 90min 🇫🇷 (@90minFR) November 15, 2022
– But Mario insisted the pair have “a great relationship”, claiming the incident had been misread by those outside the Portugal camp.
– “I was there and saw everything, it was a funny moment that was misinterpreted on the outside,” he said.
– “Bruno was late, one of the last to arrive, and Cristiano asked him if he had came by boat.
– “I understand that the images can be interpreted in many ways, but it was a joke between them. There is no problem between them.”
