World Cup 2022: Bruno Fernandes accepting of Ronaldo exit

Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo person played alongside each different for Portugal and Manchester United

Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes says it was a "dream" to play with Cristiano Ronaldo astatine Manchester United but "nothing lasts forever".

Portugal statesman their World Cup run against Ghana connected Thursday and Fernandes says the players person not been distracted by Ronaldo's situation.

"We haven't discussed the taxable - we are each focused connected the nationalist squad and the World Cup," said Fernandes.

Ronaldo's United exit follows a arguable interrogation successful which the 37-year-old criticised the nine and said helium had "no respect" for manager Erik 10 Hag.

Fernandes added: "You cognize however important playing for Portugal is for Cristiano and for each of us. It is the imagination of each player. Our absorption is 100% connected the nationalist squad and we are each alert of what we person to do.

"I don't consciousness uncomfortable. It was a privilege to play with Cristiano and a imagination astatine the club. Cristiano has ever been an inspiration for me, it was a imagination to beryllium capable to play with him astatine Man Utd, but we cognize thing lasts forever.

"It was bully portion it lasted but we person to respect his decision, careless of america agreeing oregon not.

"We cognize it mightiness beryllium hard to marque decisions but these indispensable beryllium for the champion of our families."

Fernandes' comments were echoed by Portugal brag Fernando Santos, who said: "It [Ronaldo leaving Man Utd] is thing that hasn't adjacent been discussed. No remark astir that successful our clip together. There has not been the speech astatine immoderate point.

"The players person clip for themselves to bash immoderate they want, but they cognize person to beryllium focused to effort to triumph this competition.

"You person seen what happened successful the archetypal fewer games with large surprises. The bequest is us, that is critical."

'It's not our problem'

Ghana finished bottommost of their radical successful the African Cup of Nations earlier this year, but qualified for the World Cup aft a triumph implicit rivals Nigeria successful qualifying.

Coach Otto Addo says his side's opponents volition not beryllium affected by Ronaldo's concern arsenic "everybody wants to win".

"I don't care, it's not our occupation and I don't deliberation it's a large problem," Addo said.

"Everybody wants to triumph and we're astatine World Cup level, I don't deliberation this tin disrupt anybody."

Ghana skipper Andre Ayew besides admitted Portugal would beryllium favourites for the opening Group H game.

"As my brag said it's not truly our occupation what's happening successful the Portuguese team, they are large professionals, playing for apical teams, they volition beryllium acceptable for the World Cup," said Ayew.

"Portugal are the ones who are favourites connected paper, we person to amusement connected the field, that connected insubstantial is not what volition hap connected the pitch."

TEAM NEWS

Ronaldo had been dealing with an unwellness and missed Portugal's past warm-up crippled against Nigeria, but is expected to beryllium disposable to look Ghana.

Ghana rested immoderate of their much experienced players successful the caller warm-up triumph implicit Switzerland, but are apt to invited backmost the likes of Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey.

SUTTON'S PREDICTION

At fig 61 successful the world, Ghana are the lowest-ranked squad successful the tourney and this is simply a hard crippled for them to footwear disconnected with.

Portugal person got immoderate world-class players successful their squad but I americium not definite however things volition acceptable unneurotic with Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been successful atrocious signifier for Manchester United and has thrown his toys retired of the pram. He seems to beryllium blaming everyone other for that, alternatively than himself.

At 37, Ronaldo is not the subordinate helium erstwhile was, but helium volition beryllium hopeless to execute good astatine this World Cup aft what has happened successful the past fewer months.

He loves to beryllium the centre of attraction but present helium has to fto his shot bash the talking, which helium hasn't done this season.

Prediction: 3-1

Chris Sutton's predictions for the opening circular of World Cup games

MATCH FACTS

• Portugal and Ghana's lone erstwhile gathering was successful the radical stages of the 2014 World Cup. Portugal won 2-1, with a Cristiano Ronaldo winning goal
• Portugal are winless successful their past 3 opening games astatine the World Cup. (D2 L1)
• Should helium play, Ghana skipper Andre Ayew volition person appeared successful much World Cup matches (8) successful the contention than immoderate existent subordinate for African nations (currently 7)
• Ghana volition marque their 4th quality astatine the World Cup. They person failed to advancement past the radical signifier lone erstwhile earlier - successful their past quality successful 2014