Cristiano Ronaldo's sister, Elma Aveiro, has waded in after the Portugal captain launched an explosive attack on Erik ten Hag and Manchester United.
The superstar attacker has found his game time diminish this season, making just four starts in the Premier League. He has still been included in the Portugal squad for the World Cup, though, and will travel to Qatar this week for the tournament.
Before leaving for the Middle East, Ronaldo conducted an interview with Piers Morgan. In the interview, he slammed Ten Hag, took aim at Wayne Rooney and made his disdain for senior figures at Old Trafford clear.
Ronaldo has faced widespread criticism for his decision to open up on his feelings about his treatment this season. But he has found a supporter in his sister, who has leapt to his defence.
Aveiro took to his Instagram to make her support of Ronaldo known, first sharing a quote from his interview. It read: "I am not silent about doors that I will hardly open again out of pride, but more out of respect for myself."
She then shared a picture of Ronaldo and Morgan sitting together with the caption: "I will always be proud of you my dear." Aveiro went on to call Ronaldo the "Biggest pride of my life" in her next story, which contained a short clip from his interview.
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Her next story featured a news report about Ronaldo's feelings towards Ten Hag with the caption: "The truth is being told." She then finished by sharing tweets that were supportive of her brother along with heart emojis.
Ronaldo did not hold back in his criticism of Ten Hag and United in the interview. The full extent of his blast will not be seen until the interview is released on Wednesday, but the short clips released so far show how unhappy he is.
"Honestly, I shouldn't say that... don't know... But listen I don't care, I'm always... People should listen to the truth. Yes, I feel betrayed and I feel that some people don't want me here, not only this year but last year, too," he said in one clip.
"I don't have respect for him [Ten Hag] because he doesn't show respect for me. If you don't have respect for me, I'm never gonna have respect for you. If you don't have respect for me, I'm never gonna have respect for you.
"I don't know why he [Rooney] criticises me so badly. Probably because he finished his career and I'm still playing at high level. I'm not going to say that I'm looking better than him. Which is true.
"He [Sir Alex Ferguson] knows better than anybody that the club is not on the path they deserve to be. He knows. Everyone knows. The people who don't see that… it's because they don't want to see; they are blind."
