Cristiano Ronaldo has called for the media to ask his Portugal teammates about their upcoming matches rather than focusing on him, saying: “Please, don’t ask players about me - ask about the World Cup”.
Ronaldo caused waves when he hit out at Manchester United during an interview with Piers Morgan which aired in the lead-up to the tournament. The veteran has fallen out of favour at Old Trafford since the appointment of Erik ten Hag as manager, but remains a big part of the set-up for his national side.
There appeared to be a frosty interaction with club and international colleague Bruno Fernandes after the interview aired, prompting further speculation. However, in explaining his stance, Ronaldo has also shed more light on that particular exchange.
"Timing is always timing," Ronaldo told the media in Qatar. "From your side it is easy to look at how we can chose timings.
"Sometimes you write truths, sometimes you write lies. I don’t have to worry what other think. I talk when I want to. Everybody knows who I am, what I believe in."
On the Fernandes incident, meanwhile, he insisted the pair were playing around. "His plane was late - I asked him did you come by boat," the former Juventus star said.
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Ronaldo is one of three Manchester United players in the Portugal squad, alongside Fernandes and right-back Diogo Dalot. The Euro 2016 winners will begin their campaign against Ghana on November 24, before taking on Uruguay and South Korea in their other Group G matches.
The 37-year-old will captain his country in Qatar, where he is also looking to add to his tally of 117 international goals - a world record which could be extended. He was Portugal's top scorer in qualifying with six goals, but Fernandes was the hero in the play-offs as Fernando Santos' side beat North Macedonia to book their place in the finals.
Ronaldo hit out at United boss Erik ten Hag during his interview with Morgan, while also questioning former interim manager Ralf Rangnick. Ronaldo captained United in a recent Premier League loss against Aston Villa, but has often been used as a substitute by Ten Hag.
"I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me," Ronaldo said of the former Ajax manager. "If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never gonna have respect for you.
"I think the fans should know the truth. I want the best for the club. This is why I come to Manchester United.
"But you have some things inside that don’t help (us) reach the top level as City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal... a club with this dimension should be top of the tree in my opinion and they are not, unfortunately."
