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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cristiano Ronaldo believes his explosive TV interview, in which the Manchester United forward said he had been betrayed by the club and was being forced out, had not been a distraction in the Portugal changing room at the World Cup.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Portugal captain said that he is not worried about how his actions will impact the squad, adding that he feels great about their chances of winning the World Cup.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“In my life, the best timing is always my timing,” Ronaldo told a news conference on Monday.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I don't have to think about what other people think. I speak when I want. The players know me really well for many years and know the type of person I am.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It’s an ambitious group that is hungry and focused. So I’m sure it (the interview) won’t shake the changing room’s concentration and focus.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 37-year-old Ronaldo confirmed that the awkward handshake between him and attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes that was caught on camera and went viral was the result of a joke between the Portugal and United teammates.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1471074\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Qatar-2022-Ronaldo-defiant_2.jpg\" alt=\"Cristiano Ronaldo\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" /> Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal passes the ball during the Portugal Training Session at Al Shahaniya SC training centre on 21 November, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo: Christopher Lee / Getty Images )</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“My relationship with him (Fernandes) is excellent,\" Ronaldo said. “I was joking with him. His plane arrived late and I asked if he had come by boat. That’s it.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The environment in the changing room is excellent. No problems. The group is shielded. And I take this opportunity to say: stop asking about me.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the interview, which aired in Britain last week, Ronaldo told host Piers Morgan that the club betrayed him and that he was being actively forced out, while he has no respect for manager Erik ten Hag.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ronaldo rejoined United from Juventus for a second spell at Old Trafford in August 2021 on a two-year deal, returning to the club where he won eight major trophies from 2003-2009.</span>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Visit <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=in_article_link&utm_campaign=homepage\"><em>Daily Maverick's</em> home page</a> for more news, analysis and investigations</strong>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Yes I feel betrayed, and I feel some people don’t want me here, not just this year, but last year too,” Ronaldo said in an interview with Morgan for </span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TalkTV</span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last month, Ten Hag said Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur when the forward walked down the tunnel with a few minutes of the match remaining after being left on the bench.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He was then not part of the squad that faced Chelsea the following Saturday.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the interview, Ronaldo said Manchester United did not support him when he and his partner Georgina Rodriguez’s daughter was taken to hospital in July. He said the club doubted him and showed a lack of empathy when he did not arrive on time for pre-season training.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> “I think the fans should know the truth,” he said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I want the best for the club. This is why I came to Manchester United.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“But you have some things inside that don’t help (us) reach the top level as City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal... a club with this dimension should be top of the tree in my opinion and they are not, unfortunately.”</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1471075\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Qatar-2022-Ronaldo-defiant_3.jpg\" alt=\"Erik ten Hag\" width=\"720\" height=\"458\" /> Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag ahead of the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Manchester United at Craven Cottage on 13 November, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo: Craig Mercer / MB Media/Getty Images)</p>\r\n<h4><b>Training as usual</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After missing Thursday's friendly against Nigeria in Lisbon due to a stomach problem, Ronaldo has been training as usual with teammates since arriving in Qatar on Friday and he said he feels in shape.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I’m feeling great, I’m recovered and I’m training well and ready to start the World Cup in the best way possible,” Ronaldo said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> “I feel that this Portugal squad has amazing potential. I think we can win for sure, but we need to focus on the next game. So, it’s focusing in Ghana, get a win and go from there.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We will see in the end who the best team is, but I believe Portugal is the best team in this World Cup. But we need to show it on the pitch.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Portugal is in World Cup Group H with Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea. </span><b>Reuters/DM</b>",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cristiano Ronaldo believes his explosive TV interview, in which the Manchester United forward said he had been betrayed by the club and was being forced out, had not been a distraction in the Portugal changing room at the World Cup.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Portugal captain said that he is not worried about how his actions will impact the squad, adding that he feels great about their chances of winning the World Cup.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“In my life, the best timing is always my timing,” Ronaldo told a news conference on Monday.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I don't have to think about what other people think. I speak when I want. The players know me really well for many years and know the type of person I am.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It’s an ambitious group that is hungry and focused. So I’m sure it (the interview) won’t shake the changing room’s concentration and focus.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 37-year-old Ronaldo confirmed that the awkward handshake between him and attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes that was caught on camera and went viral was the result of a joke between the Portugal and United teammates.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1471074\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1471074\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Qatar-2022-Ronaldo-defiant_2.jpg\" alt=\"Cristiano Ronaldo\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" /> Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal passes the ball during the Portugal Training Session at Al Shahaniya SC training centre on 21 November, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo: Christopher Lee / Getty Images )[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“My relationship with him (Fernandes) is excellent,\" Ronaldo said. “I was joking with him. His plane arrived late and I asked if he had come by boat. That’s it.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The environment in the changing room is excellent. No problems. The group is shielded. And I take this opportunity to say: stop asking about me.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the interview, which aired in Britain last week, Ronaldo told host Piers Morgan that the club betrayed him and that he was being actively forced out, while he has no respect for manager Erik ten Hag.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ronaldo rejoined United from Juventus for a second spell at Old Trafford in August 2021 on a two-year deal, returning to the club where he won eight major trophies from 2003-2009.</span>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Visit <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=in_article_link&utm_campaign=homepage\"><em>Daily Maverick's</em> home page</a> for more news, analysis and investigations</strong>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Yes I feel betrayed, and I feel some people don’t want me here, not just this year, but last year too,” Ronaldo said in an interview with Morgan for </span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TalkTV</span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last month, Ten Hag said Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur when the forward walked down the tunnel with a few minutes of the match remaining after being left on the bench.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He was then not part of the squad that faced Chelsea the following Saturday.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the interview, Ronaldo said Manchester United did not support him when he and his partner Georgina Rodriguez’s daughter was taken to hospital in July. He said the club doubted him and showed a lack of empathy when he did not arrive on time for pre-season training.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> “I think the fans should know the truth,” he said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I want the best for the club. This is why I came to Manchester United.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“But you have some things inside that don’t help (us) reach the top level as City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal... a club with this dimension should be top of the tree in my opinion and they are not, unfortunately.”</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1471075\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1471075\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Qatar-2022-Ronaldo-defiant_3.jpg\" alt=\"Erik ten Hag\" width=\"720\" height=\"458\" /> Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag ahead of the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Manchester United at Craven Cottage on 13 November, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo: Craig Mercer / MB Media/Getty Images)[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>Training as usual</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After missing Thursday's friendly against Nigeria in Lisbon due to a stomach problem, Ronaldo has been training as usual with teammates since arriving in Qatar on Friday and he said he feels in shape.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I’m feeling great, I’m recovered and I’m training well and ready to start the World Cup in the best way possible,” Ronaldo said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> “I feel that this Portugal squad has amazing potential. I think we can win for sure, but we need to focus on the next game. So, it’s focusing in Ghana, get a win and go from there.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We will see in the end who the best team is, but I believe Portugal is the best team in this World Cup. 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Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal passes the ball during the Portugal Training Session at Al Shahaniya SC training centre on 21 November, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo: Christopher Lee / Getty Images )
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag ahead of the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Manchester United at Craven Cottage on 13 November, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo: Craig Mercer / MB Media/Getty Images)