Fernandes: 'World Cup is more important than Ronaldo's interview'
"I don't watch or read the news about Ronaldo's interview," Fernandes said after a friendly against Nigeria 4-0 on November 17. "As I said before, the number one priority right now is the Portuguese team. Coach Fernando Santos has confirmed the same. We have to focus on the 2022 World Cup."
In the press conference before the Nigeria match, coach Santos confirmed that Ronaldo's interview did not affect the Portuguese team. He also denied being under pressure or obligated to start the 37-year-old striker at the 2022 World Cup. "He did not need to inform us about the interview," added Santos. "It's a personal interview with Ronaldo and we have to respect that. He also didn't say anything about the team and I didn't see any players comment on it."
On November 13, Ronaldo conducted a controversial 90-minute interview with journalist Piers Morgan, where he accused Man Utd of betraying him, asserted that he did not respect current coach Erik ten Hag, criticized his predecessor Ralf Rangnick. , former teammates Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville and the Glazer family of home owners.
A day later, the 37-year-old striker joined the Portuguese team to prepare for the 2022 World Cup. At that time, a video posted by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) showed that Fernandes was a bit cold when greet the senior in the changing room. Ronaldo was even somewhat stunned by Fernandes' attitude.
The 28-year-old midfielder denied having a conflict with Ronaldo, saying that the two were joking and only focused on the problem of Man Utd after the 2022 World Cup. "Ronaldo will play the fifth World Cup, that is a great achievement. The whole team is now ready and everyone wants the best for the team," added Fernandes.
Meanwhile, Alberto Joao Jardim - who was the president of Madeira, Ronaldo's hometown, from 1978 to 2015 - defended the 37-year-old striker and said that many people were "envious and jealous" of him. "This is like the worst fight against Ronaldo, jealous, slanderous and ungrateful to the son of Madeira, the most famous Portuguese in the world," he wrote on Facebook.
In Lisbon yesterday, Ronaldo was absent due to gastroenteritis. Without the captain striker, Portugal still won easily against Nigeria 4-0 thanks to Fernandes' double and two goals from Goncalo Ramos and Joao Mario.
Ronaldo is likely to return from the opening match of Group H of the World Cup 2022 against Ghana on November 24. Qatar 2022 is Ronaldo's fifth consecutive World Cup, thereby equaling the record of Antonio Carbajal (Mexico), Lothar Matthaus (Germany), Rafael Marquez (Mexico) and Gianluigi Buffon (Italy). Similarly, Qatar 2022 is also the fifth World Cup of Lionel Messi (Argentina), and Andres Guardado, Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico).
In the previous four World Cups, Ronaldo has scored seven goals in 17 games, including a hat-trick in a draw with Spain in the 2018 group stage.
