Bruno Fernandes shared a very tense reunion with Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo on Monday evening following the latter’s explosive interview in which he slammed the club and manager Erik ten Hag.
The 37-year-old sat down for a 90-minute interview with Piers Morgan in which he accused United’s hierarchy of ‘betrayal’ and said he would ‘never respect’ Ten Hag.
United released a statement on Monday saying they would ‘consider their response after the full facts have been established’, with only titbits from the sit-down having been released before it airs in full later this week.
Nevertheless, Ronaldo’s comments are reported to have gone down like a lead balloon with both the club’s hierarchy and his team-mates – many of whom have become increasingly tired of his sulking.
United are expected to fine Ronaldo two weeks’ wages – which amounts to around £1million – and are even considering tearing up his contract.
Now United fans have been granted a first glimpse of how Ronaldo’s interview has gone down with his team-mates after Fernandes was reunited with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner for the first time.
Ronaldo had already flown to Portugal and took part in a training session on Monday despite ‘illness’ having caused him to miss the Red Devils’ last two matches, against Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup and Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday.
Fernandes’ link-up with the Portugal squad was delayed due to his participation at Craven Cottage and things got very awkward when he bumped into Ronaldo for the first time since his bombshell interview.
The midfielder initially seemed to ignore Ronaldo’s outstretched hand before belatedly shaking it and appearing to make a pointed comment that left the former Real Madrid star looking stony-faced, before the pair exchanged words and Fernandes walked away to greet other team-mates – doing so in a far more cheery manner.
Within minutes, the footage of their tense meeting had been watched millions of times, with one United fan tweeting: ‘The way Cristiano Ronaldo looked at Bruno Fernandes after shaking his hand… LOL!’
‘Bruno doesn’t look happy with Ronaldo,’ tweeted another. ‘The body language shows the tension.’ Others suggested Ronaldo was entirely oblivious to the furore his interview had created and could not understand why Fernandes might be frosty towards him.
Portuguese journalist Pedro Sepulveda claims the frosty reunion between the pair has been overblown and insists there is no issue between the two, with both players focused on performing well for Portugal at the World Cup.
Ronaldo posted a defiant message on social media earlier in the day, writing on Instagram: ‘Total and absolute focus on national team work. A united group working towards one objective: realising the dream of all Portuguese people!’
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MORE : Manchester United willing to tear up Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract on one condition
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