Portugal Must Adapt To Ronaldo’s Qualities – Bruno Fernandes

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has shared his thoughts on whether the Portugal national team is better off without Cristiano Ronaldo. He recently had his say while speaking to the press, and fans have been reacting.

According to him, every Portuguese player adds and removes from the team, and it is their responsibility to adapt and enhance each other’s qualities so that the national team benefits at the 2026 World Cup.

Bruno added that Ronaldo is a top-level player, and he can still give the team a lot inside the box.

His words, “I have no problem talking about it. I know what people think, that it’s clear we play better without Ronaldo, that the players are freer and more fluid. If that happens, it’s partly our fault. We can’t let Cristiano be the only one holding us back. He can give us things inside the box, he’s a very high-level player, he draws defenders and creates space for other players.

Gonçalo [Ramos] is strong in pressing and good at diagonal runs. When Bruno isn’t playing and Bernardo is playing as a number 10, Bernardo [Silva] gives you more possession, Bruno more of a final pass. All players add things and take away others. Cristiano is the same as us. We have to know how to adapt and enhance each other’s qualities so that the national team benefits.”

WOW.

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro GOIH ComM is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both Saudi Pro League club, Al Nassr and the Portugal national team.

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born on 5 February 1985 in the São Pedro parish of Funchal, the capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira, and grew up in the nearby parish of Santo António. He is the fourth and youngest child of Maria Dolores dos Santos Viveiros da Aveiro, who worked as a cook in the hospitality industry and a cleaning woman, and José Dinis Aveiro, a municipal gardener at the Junta de Freguesia of Santo António and part-time kit man for football club Andorinha.

Ronaldo’s move to Manchester United was completed on 12 August 2003, too late for the 2003 FA Community Shield but in time for their game against Bolton Wanderers on the opening day of the 2003–04 season, and made him the first Portuguese player to sign for the club.

Ahead of the 2009–10 season, Ronaldo joined Real Madrid for a world record transfer fee at the time of £80 million (€94 million). His contract, which ran until 2015, was worth €11 million per year and contained a €1 billion buy-out clause.