Portugal midfielder Joao Mario has played down the frosty reunion between Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes ahead of their World Cup campaign in Qatar.
Ronaldo appears to have played his final game for Manchester United after he hit out at Erik ten Hag and the club’s owners during an interview with Piers Morgan.
The 37-year-old claims he has no respect for Ten Hag, and believes the Glazers ‘do not care’ about United.
Ronaldo is now with Portugal’s national team as they prepare for their World Cup, which begins against Ghana on November 24.
After meeting up with Ronaldo for the first time since his comments, Fernandes looked less than impressed as he shared a tense exchange with his United teammate.
However, Joao Mario claims Ronaldo had jokingly asked Fernandes whether he had arrived at Portugal’s training camp via boat, as the United midfielder was one of the last players to arrive in the dressing room.
‘I was in the locker room at that moment, I saw the images, and it’s funny because sometimes it can be interpreted but it was a joke between them,’ Joao Mario said at a press conference on Tuesday morning.
‘Strangely because Bruno was one of the last to arrive and Cristiano asked him if he had come by boat [laughs].
‘I believe that the images can be interpreted, but it was a joke between them.
‘I believe they have a great relationship because they play together, I saw them yesterday all day. There is no problem between them.’
When asked if Ronaldo’s interview puts more pressure on the Portuguese national team ahead of the World Cup, Joao Mario replied: ‘There’s not much to say about it.
‘When we arrive at the selection it’s another working group we try to focus on what’s most important. We’re all used to dealing with great pressure, I don’t think it brings more pressure to anyone.
‘He’s always happy when he’s in the national team.
‘I saw him yesterday, he’s quite fine as always. As I said before, for him it’s always a please to be here, he’s totally focused on the national team and for sure he is going be a big help for us at this World Cup.’
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