Cristiano Ronaldo's wild Piers Morgan interview this week has done the Manchester United man no favours whatsoever.
It's hard to understand how Ronaldo thought an interview publicly slamming his manager, as well as several ex-teammates, would go well for him but, incredibly, the interview is being released in snippets this week.
The timing of the interview is another remarkable facet, with Ronaldo and co. having just departed their club squads to travel to the World Cup in Qatar.
Ronaldo and the Portuguese camp linked up on Monday - and fellow United man Bruno Fernandes didn't look best pleased to see Ronaldo upon arrival.
Cristiano Ronaldo: Portuguese star snubbed by United teammate
Bruno Fernandes and his Portugal teammates arrived at their pre-World Cup camp, with Fernandes off the back of a dramatic late win for his club Manchester United on Sunday against Fulham.
Fernandes was captured on video arriving in the Portuguese dressing room and greeting his teammates - but there was a frosty reception for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo's interview with Piers Morgan earlier this week, in which he slammed the club's ownership, manager, directors, and his former teammates Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville, has not gone down well with United fans - or, it seems, United players, judging by Fernandes' reaction.
Bruno Fernandes gave Cristiano Ronaldo a frosty reception as he re-joined with his Manchester United teammate for international duty. 👀 pic.twitter.com/UDWaQNGjYG
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 15, 2022
Fernandes - who has regularly captained Manchester United this season, initially appeared to snub a handshake with Ronaldo, before turning to him briefly and muttering something which left his club and international teammate in shock.
The difference in greeting for many of the other Portuguese players from Fernandes speaks volumes. For someone who has played with Ronaldo at both club and international level for some time now, it's clear that Fernandes is understandably livid with the recent remarks from him.
Even the pair's United teammate Diogo Dalot, who has notably been an avid fan of Ronaldo since his return to the club last summer, appeared unenthused in a photo from the camp on Monday.
🇵🇹 Dalot and Ronaldo. #mufc pic.twitter.com/kyQAif2Gj5
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) November 14, 2022
Portugal get their World Cup campaign underway on Thursday November 24 against Ghana, with Ronaldo, Fernandes, and Dalot all expected to start the game.
It is surely unlikely, however, that we will see the trio line up together in a Manchester United team ever again. Erik Ten Hag will no doubt be furious with the comments from one of his senior players, undermining his coaching credentials, and will no doubt come down hard on the Portuguese veteran.
With the January transfer window fast approaching after this World Cup, it would not be a surprise to see Ronaldo shipped off from the club instantly. If the reaction from Bruno Fernandes is anything to go by, his teammates may well be content with such a call.
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