Bruno Fernandes gives Cristiano Ronaldo frosty reception on international duty

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Bruno Fernandes gives Cristiano Ronaldo frosty reception on international duty

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes appeared to give teammate Cristiano Ronaldo a frosty reception when he reported for Portugal duty ahead of the upcoming World Cup.

A video from the Portuguese FA showed Fernandes arriving at the national training facilities. Ronaldo was already there and attempted to greet his clubmate, but Fernandes gave a subdued response and was noticeably warmer with others in the dressing room.

It comes after Ronaldo gave an incendiary interview to TalkTV criticising Manchester United, accusing the club of not evolving and declaring he has no respect for manager Erik ten Hag.

Asked for an insight on the pair's exchange, fellow Portugal midfielder Joao Mario did his best to dismiss the idea of any tension between Ronaldo and Fernandes.

"I was in the locker room at that moment," he told a press conference. "I saw the video, it's funny because it can be interpreted differently but it was a joke between them. Bruno was one of the last to arrive and Cristiano asked him if he had come by boat.

"I believe that the images can be interpreted differently, 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,"

Fernandes is known to be close with Ronaldo, idolising the five-time Champions League winner long before they became international and then club teammates. The midfielder has even said he developed a soft spot for United growing up because of Ronaldo’s first spell at the club.

But the vice-captain is also known to be extremely loyal to the club and appears to have been put in a difficult place by Ronaldo’s interview, both in terms of timing and content.

90min understands United were ‘furious’ with Ronaldo, believing that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was on good terms with Ten Hag and feeling ‘blind-sided’.

There are reports that Ronaldo stands to be fined around £1m by United, the equivalent of roughly two weeks wages and the maximum allowed.

The most severe response would be United terminating Ronaldo’s contract for gross misconduct.