Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has called for calm within the Portugal squad after Cristiano Ronaldo's departure, describing the former United star as the "greatest icon of our national team."
Ronaldo decided to leave the Portugal squad midway through the international break after being told he would not feature in the Nations League clash against Denmark. He was an unused substitute in Portugal's 2-1 win over Norway and subsequently left before the Denmark match, which ended in a 4-2 victory for Jorge Jesus' side.
Departure sparks uncertainty
A meeting was held this week, but the issues were not resolved, leading to Ronaldo's exit and raising questions about his future with the national team. In a social media statement, the 41-year-old, who has scored 146 goals in 234 caps, indicated he would "tell all" about the circumstances "in time."
The controversy has dominated preparations for Portugal's fixture against Norway in Porto on Sunday, with Fernandes addressing it during his pre-match press conference.
Fernandes speaks out
"To put an end to this matter once and for all, I don't need to speak with my colleagues," Fernandes said. "We know how to manage our situations. We have a situation that has nothing to do with the players, and our most important role is to deliver results."
Fernandes added: "I had a conversation with Cris. What I told him is that the most important thing, regardless of what happens, is that he will never cease to be the greatest symbol of our national team and country, for everything he has done in Portugal and around the world."
"He has a reserved place not only among the best of all time, but also in the hearts of the Portuguese people. We cannot divide ourselves; the national team is one, and all parties should resolve their issues behind closed doors. I think that's how it will be, and that everything will end well on both sides."
Ronaldo's low profile
Ronaldo has kept a low profile recently, but his wife Georgina Rodriguez hinted at the tension between the Al-Nassr forward and Jesus. "I don't know how this man can carry the name of Christ," she posted on Instagram before deleting the message.
Jesus previously managed Ronaldo at Al-Nassr last season before replacing Roberto Martinez as Portugal manager. The 72-year-old made his position clear on Saturday: "The focus has to be on the national team above all else."
"Regarding Norway, what we have to do well is for our people to also be in tune with the flag and the objective. Ronaldo is a symbol of the national team and of Portugal. After the game, there is plenty of time to talk about that."
