‘I talk when I want to’ – Cristiano Ronaldo tells Man Utd he won’t be stopped from doing explosive interviews
CRISTIANO RONALDO has vowed “I talk when I want to” amid Manchester United’s impending legal action.
The Portugal star shocked the world by lifting the lid on his situation at Old Trafford in an explosive interview with The Sun’s Piers Morgan that aired on TalkTV last week.
ReutersCristiano Ronaldo spoke ahead of Portugal’s World Cup campaign[/caption]
GettyRonaldo, 37, kicks off his fifth World Cup campaign this week[/caption]
AFPTalk of Ronaldo’s future has dominated Portugal’s preparation[/caption]
Man United are preparing legal action as they look to rip up his £16million deal.
But at a pre-World Cup press conference in Qatar, Ronaldo was defiant, saying: “If I had to prove something at 37 years and eight months old, I would be worried.
“After what I have already done and won in my career, that would be a surprise for me.
“Of course I have to demonstrate what I am year after year and everyone has opinions about me.
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“For me, timing is everything. It’s easy to write opinions about me, often truths or lies, but my timing is mine and I don’t have to think about others.
“I’m sure all this won’t influence what the national team wants. All the players and staff know what I am and what I think.
“They have known me since I was 11 so they will not be influenced by what people say or write about me.”
Ronaldo accused Man United of “disrespecting” him when he chatted candidly with Morgan.
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Red Devils bosses were left furious after being torn to shreds on telly by their No7.
SunSport revealed exclusively last week that the club want to rip up his contract.
A club statement later confirmed they have started taking action in the wake of the interview.
United have reportedly instructed Ronaldo not to return to Carrington once he gets back from the World Cup.
It is also understood the club have begun the legal process to terminate Ronaldo’s £500k-a-week deal without paying him a single penny of the £16million he would have earned until he deal expires at the end of June.
While speaking to the media today, Ronaldo also addressed his seemingly awkward encounters with Bruno Fernandes and Joao Cancelo upon the attacking midfielder’s arrival into the Portugal camp last week.
He said: “In these final stages, there is always controversy. This one with Bruno Fernandes was another one that went wrong for you. You fail a lot.
“I made a joke with Bruno because my relationship with him is excellent.
The problem is that everything that revolves around Ronaldo is always a debate
Cristiano Ronaldo
“He arrived late because his plane was delayed and I asked him if he had come by boat. It was a prank and they made it into a storm.
“It was the same with Joao Cancelo in training the other day. He was a little upset after a harsh challenge by Felix, I grabbed him by the neck, pulled him up and said ‘let’s go man.’
“The problem is that everything that revolves around Ronaldo is always a debate.
“But the atmosphere in the squad is excellent, there are no problems and we are all together body and soul.
“We have one objective to win this competition so can I ask that when the next player comes into the press conference that you don’t always ask about Cristiano.
“Ask questions about the World Cup. The Cristiano case is closed. Constantly asking about Cristiano is annoying.
“If someone asked me a question, for example, about Rafa, I wouldn’t answer because it’s a closed chapter.”
Portugal get their Group H campaign underway with a clash against Ghana on Thursday.
They will then face Uruguay next Monday, before rounding off the group stage with a match against South Korea on Thursday week.
https://twitter.com/LuigiDamiao/status/1592272483771904000?s=20&t=hyRfRxavM6eatQpDNGflnwA clip of Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes caused a stir online[/caption]
