They have been team-mates at Manchester United and for Portugal, but some people have thought that Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes would clash

When the going has got tough, Bruno Fernandes has always launched a staunch defence of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Fans were left frustrated on Fernandes’ behalf this pas week during Portugal’s narrow win over Slovenia in the Euro 2024 Round of 16. This stemmed from Ronaldo taking four free-kicks in dangerous positions – and not coming close to scoring any of them.

Ronaldo then missed a spot-kick in extra-time, which would’ve prevented the match from going to a penalty shootout. Ronaldo’s insistence of taking all the set pieces only added to many supporters’ feeling that the pair, who have played together at Manchester United as well as at international level, do not see eye-to-eye.

The seeds of this rumour were planted when Fernandes looked to have given Ronaldo the cold shoulder in the Portugal changing room, soon after the 39-year-old chastised United in an explosive interview with Piers Morgan.

When the video first emerged without sound, a Sky Sports journalist said it looked like the pair were exchanging jibes at each other. Fernandes quickly replied: “They put the sound on after, did you hear it with the sound?

“You have to hear it. In Portugal, we have a problem that I was watching on one of the channels that was talking about that. [They were saying] ‘It was cold, it was bad’ for about 45 minutes. All of a sudden, they go for a break and the national team put it up with the sound and the sound says that he’s joking with me.

“They came back and said there was a joke, and they cut there. They they said ‘If you want to see again, just go back’, but if they go back, they will see that was a problem. But if they tell the truth, if they explain what was in that video, people will know, but now people don’t know.

“As I said, this is national team, Manchester United will be my focus after the World Cup. I have no problem with anyone. One time a manager said to be ‘Everything that you can control is yourself’. I think everyone thinks the same way.”

Ronaldo and Fernandes appeared to have developed a friendly understanding during Portugal’s 3-0 victory over Turkey. The five-time Ballon d’Or was played through on goal, but instead of shooting, he cut the ball across to Fernandes for a tap-in.

While Fernandes would have appreciated Ronaldo’s pass then, he, as would all of the Portugal players, would’ve been extremely frustrated by the iconic forward’s insistence of taking every free-kick within range of the goal. Ronaldo did not come close to scoring from any of his dead ball situations, which were more often than not more than 30 yards away from goal.

He is yet to score a single goal across the whole competition and has not found the net for the national side since he scored two goals in a friendly against Ireland last month. Ronaldo will almost certainly start in Portugal’s quarter-final clash against France.

Considering how strong France are, Portugal will need to make any and every opportunity they get to score count. Considering Ronaldo’s recent struggles with his set pieces, legendary England forward Gary Lineker thinks Fernandes is the better taker. “It is almost impossible, despite the fact his record is something like one in 60 that he’s scored in tournaments,” Lineker said on the Rest is Football podcast

“Bruno Fernandes is a better free-kick taker and a more varied free-kick taker than Ronaldo. So while he’s [Ronaldo] a massive strength, he can also be a weakness as well.”

Ronaldo and Fernandes appeared to have developed a friendly understanding during Portugal’s 3-0 victory over Turkey. The five-time Ballon d’Or was played through on goal, but instead of shooting, he cut the ball across to Fernandes for a tap-in.

While Fernandes would have appreciated Ronaldo’s pass then, he, as would all of the Portugal players, would’ve been extremely frustrated by the iconic forward’s insistence of taking every free-kick within range of the goal. Ronaldo did not come close to scoring from any of his dead ball situations, which were more often than not more than 30 yards away from goal.