The 37-year-old staged an impromptu press conference and addressed the controversy following his headline-breaking Piers Morgan sit-down.

Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken publicly for the first time since his bombshell Piers Morgan interview, with the Portuguese superstar staging an unscheduled and unexpected press conference with the FIFA World Cup journalists.

The 37-year-old has been dominating the headlines since his sit-down on Piers Morgan Uncensored, with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner making several shocking statements.

Not only did the attacker openly admit to having no respect for current Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, but the former Real Madrid and Juventus superstar also hit out at the Red Devils, the board, and the Glazers ownership, stating that nothing has changed at the club since he initially left back in 2009.

Additionally, he admitted to feeling betrayed at the Theatre of Dreams and accused his employers of ostracising him. As a result, reports now suggest that Ronaldo's time in Manchester is over, with the Premier League giants looking to cancel his contract and part ways with the goalscorer. Unfortunately, this fiasco has spilled over to the Portugal national team, with reporters grilling his teammates – namely Bruno Fernandes – over potential fallouts with his countrymen.

And in this impromptu press conference, Cristiano came out swinging, hitting back at the media over their portrayal of him in the aftermath of that interview and demanding reporters stop interrogating his Portugal teammates over his Manchester United debacle.

"Timing is always timing. From your side, it is easy to look at how we can choose timings.

"Sometimes you write truths, sometimes you write lies. I don't have to worry about what others think. I talk when I want to. 

"Everybody knows who I am, what I believe in. They have known me [here] since I was 11. They will not be influenced by what people say and write about me.

"The atmosphere is excellent, no problems, we are completely focused. You can help by not talking about me. I'm completely bulletproof and iron-clad.

"If you ask other players about Cristiano Ronaldo I would be upset. If you want to ask him about the World Cup and the team, I would like you to do that."

There were suggestions of a row between the national team captain and star midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who is his friend and teammate at the club level as well. The pair shared an awkward greeting upon reuniting in the Portugal camp, leading to speculation of a rift over the 37-year-old's unsettling 90-minute Piers Morgan conversation.

However, Ronaldo also put that down to bed, arguing that the pair were simply joking with one another. This explanation had already been offered by Fernandes but Cristiano saw fit to dispel the rumors himself.

"We were just playing around - we have great relations. His plane was late and I asked him, 'Did you come by boat' I was goofing around," CR7 later added.

"Same with [Joao] Cancelo. He was sad during practice. I said, "wake up, come on, you've got this!" Another controversy on your end."

Ronaldo and Co. might have spoken to the media on Monday but the Euro 2016 winners will not be in action until Thursday. The European giants kick off their Qatar 2022 campaign with an interesting clash against Ghana as Cristiano aims to get his fifth–and probably last–FIFA World Cup campaign off with a win.

 

Match details, result and original broadcast info

Portugal 3 - 2 Ghana

November 24, 2022 11:00amStadium 974 (ad-Dōha (Doha))

This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.

Live TV coverage and streaming in United States

FOX Network
fuboTV
Sling
Telemundo
Peacock
Telemundo Deportes En Vivo
Foxsports.com
FOX Sports App
UFORIA App
SiriusXM FC