Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of the Portuguese team, "at no time threatened to leave" the team in the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the Portuguese Football Federation said in a statement on Thursday in response to information in this regard published by the newspaper Record, when he met his substitution in the round of 16 match of the tournament last Tuesday against Switzerland.
"A piece of news published on Thursday says that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to leave the national team during a conversation with Fernando Santos, the national coach. The FPF (Portuguese Football Federation) clarifies that at no time did the captain of the team, Cristiano Ronaldo, threaten to leave the national team during the concentration in Qatar", affirms the organization on its official website.
"Cristiano Ronaldo builds a unique career every day at the service of the national team and the country that must be respected and that attests to his unquestionable commitment to the national team. In fact, the degree of dedication of the player with the most international caps for Portugal was clearly demonstrated again, if necessary, in the victory against Switzerland in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup," the note insists.
He also explains that the "national team (players, coaches and FPF structure) is totally committed and enthusiastic from day one in building what the country wants to be Portugal's best participation in a World Cup".
His teammate in the Portuguese team, Otavio, spoke in the same vein on Thursday: "He never said anything, because he never wanted to leave. On the contrary. He has always helped us by playing or not playing. He is an example. Our captain. The team is with him "Our strength is that we are all united. The atmosphere has always been normal. Nobody has ever seen an argument or anything like that", assured the Porto midfielder, who pointed out that "it is normal" for a player to be "angry when he doesn't play, but It's not only Cristiano, but everyone".
"Everything he does, or does not do, is news. We are all united," proclaimed Otavio, who agreed with the message Cristiano Ronaldo posted on Twitter about unity against "external forces": "He is absolutely right. The group is united. And this news from outside will not hinder it. We know everything that is happening, inside and outside, but we are focused on one thing, playing with Portugal and winning."
"Cristiano always showed his support for the team, inside and out. The images only show the negative and not the positive. He is an example, he is our captain and in that same game (against Switzerland, when he was a substitute) he was one of the most He supported the team, even after knowing that he was not going to play. We are united", the player added.
Portugal faces Morocco this Saturday in the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Qatar. In case of overcoming the tie, the winner of the match between England and France will be measured in the semifinals. Croatia-Brazil and the Netherlands-Argentina complete the quarterfinals.
