Speaking publicly for the first time since his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, Christiano Ronaldo defeated the timing of his interview.

He said that he did not regret the timing despite the fallout ahead of Portugal’s preparations for the World Cup 2022 in Qatar. He has also asked journalists to stop asking his Portugal teammates about him.

Manchester United is reportedly seeking to terminate the 37-year-old’s contract after he criticized the club and manager Erik ten Hag, sources have told ESPN.  

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“Timing is always timing,” Ronaldo said at a news conference at the Al Shahaniya Sports Club. “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 what others think. I talk when I want to. Everybody knows who I am, what I believe in.”

Over the weekend, both Bernardo Silva and Ruben Neves were questioned about Ronaldo at multiple news conferences. There was also speculation that Ronaldo’s interview had caused an issue between him and his United teammate Bruno Fernandes when the pair met up at Portugal’s training camp in Lisbon last week, following his controversial interview. 

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“We were playing around last week,” Ronaldo said. “His plane was late, and I asked him, ‘Did you come by boat?’ Please, don’t ask players about me, ask about the World Cup.”

Ronaldo gave Portugal’s warm-up game with Nigeria a miss last week but has trained since arriving in Qatar. 

“I feel good,” he said. “I had a small problem, but I’m already recovered. We’ve been doing good training, and I feel prepared to start the World Cup in the best way. I’m fine. I believe we have enormous potential. I believe [we can win] and I have that feeling, but we have to start well with Ghana, which is the hardest.”