Bruno Fernandes has spoken with Cristiano Ronaldo following the Portugal forward’s fallout with manager Jorge Jesus, but has urged the country to avoid taking sides in the dispute.
Ronaldo’s future with Portugal has been cast into doubt after he left the national team camp amid tensions over his role under Jesus. Fernandes said the squad was aware of the situation but remained separate from the disagreement.
“We are completely outside the matter. We are aware of what you are saying and what we are seeing,” Fernandes told reporters ahead of Portugal’s upcoming fixtures.
“But what I think, once again, is that the country should not divide itself, that people should not take sides, and that we should experience all of this as one.”
Bruno Fernandes defends Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal legacy
The Manchester United midfielder also stressed that the controversy should not diminish Ronaldo’s contribution to Portugal or his standing in the sport.
“We should respect and accept all sides, but at the same time, as I said, Cris is and will always be the greatest icon of our national team, our football and also world football,” Fernandes said.
The dispute emerged during Portugal’s Nations League campaign when Jesus left Ronaldo as an unused substitute during the 2-1 victory over Norway. Ronaldo was reportedly unhappy with his role, with the situation escalating before he departed the camp.
An emergency meeting involving Ronaldo, the coaching staff and the Portuguese federation failed to settle the matter. Ronaldo later indicated on social media that he would give his side of the story in due course.
Fernandes said he had communicated with Ronaldo but made clear that Portugal’s players were concentrating on representing their country and on matters on the pitch.
Uncertainty now surrounds Ronaldo’s international future, including whether he will play for Portugal again while Jesus remains manager. Fernandes has sought to calm the debate while maintaining that Ronaldo’s status as the country’s greatest football icon remains unchanged.
