Manchester United and Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes has publicly reaffirmed Cristiano Ronaldo’s place in Portuguese football history, describing the veteran forward as the greatest icon of the national team and the country.
Fernandes made the comments as Portugal prepare for their UEFA Nations League meeting with Norway, with Ronaldo’s recent departure from the national team camp continuing to attract attention.
The Portugal captain’s absence has followed a turbulent few days surrounding his role under head coach Jorge Jesus. Ronaldo was left on the bench during Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League victory over Norway and subsequently did not feature against Denmark, before leaving the national team camp after discussions with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença.
Fernandes, who has assumed the captaincy in Ronaldo’s absence, said he had spoken directly with the Al-Nassr forward and repeated the message publicly.
“I spoke with Cristiano Ronaldo and told him that he is and will always remain the greatest icon of our national team and our country,” Fernandes said.
The midfielder also pushed back against suggestions that the situation had created a split within the Portuguese dressing room.
According to Fernandes, the players remain united and should not become involved in matters surrounding Ronaldo and the coaching staff.
“Our national team is united, not divided,” he said, while stressing that issues concerning the situation should be handled internally.
His intervention comes after Ronaldo left Portugal’s camp following his omission from the squad that faced Denmark. Ronaldo later said he would explain the reasons for his departure at a later date, while wishing his teammates well.
Jesus has maintained that there was no serious confrontation between himself and Ronaldo. The Portugal coach previously explained that he had agreed with Ronaldo that the forward would not play Portugal’s opening two matches of the international break as part of a plan to manage his physical condition.
Jesus also denied reports that Ronaldo had refused to train, saying the forward had instead completed gym, mobility and strength work.
The coach has nevertheless acknowledged Ronaldo’s importance to Portuguese football. Ahead of the upcoming Norway fixture, Jesus described the five-time Ballon d’Or winner as a symbol of both the national team and Portugal.
Fernandes’ comments therefore come at a delicate moment for the Portuguese national team. Rather than taking sides in the dispute, the Manchester United midfielder called for respect for everyone involved and warned against allowing the controversy to create divisions around the national team.
He also pointed to Portugal’s depth as evidence that the squad can continue competing while Ronaldo is absent. Fernandes said selection decisions ultimately belong to Jesus and that the team’s responsibility is to perform on the pitch.
Portugal have made a strong start to their Nations League campaign, winning their opening three matches against Wales, Norway and Denmark. Their latest victory came in a 4-2 win over Denmark, with João Cancelo, Gonçalo Ramos, Vitinha and João Félix scoring for the Portuguese side.
Ronaldo’s international future remains a major talking point, although his departure from the camp did not amount to an announcement of international retirement.
For now, Fernandes’ message is clear: whatever happens with the current situation, he believes Ronaldo’s contribution to Portugal’s football identity remains firmly established.
The immediate focus, however, will return to the pitch when Portugal face Norway, with the squad attempting to maintain their Nations League momentum while the questions surrounding their veteran star continue away from the action.
