Former Liverpool defender, Jamie Carragher has slammed media personality, Piers Morgan and former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand for their unwavering support of Cristiano Ronaldo, regardless of the circumstances.
Ronaldo, 41, attracted negative attention earlier this month when he left the Portugal squad in Copenhagen ahead of their UEFA Nations League match against Denmark, following a disagreement with head coach Jorge Jesus over alleged unfulfilled commitments.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was reportedly instructed to participate in an extended warm-up session lasting more than 30 minutes during the match against Norway in Oslo but remained unused on the bench.
Jesus was expected to address the matter during his press conference but refrained from doing so, fuelling Ronaldo’s frustration.
The incident reportedly led to his withdrawal from the Portuguese national team and created uncertainty about his international career.
According to Centre Goals, Carragher said: “He invariably demands that everything revolve around him. He is evidently attempting to engineer the manager’s dismissal.
“You see people like Piers Morgan and Rio Ferdinand, they were big people in the media, whether you liked them or not, absolutely embarrassing themselves with the nonsense they’re coming out with because they know Ronaldo and want to get an interview with him. You can’t defend the indefensible; it’s embarrassing.”
Morgan had criticised Jorge Jesus, describing him as the Portuguese Erik ten Hag, in reference to the former Manchester United manager who also experienced conflict with Ronaldo.
Ferdinand similarly sided with his former Manchester United colleague, expressing disapproval of Jesus’s handling of the situation and demanding an apology from him.
Portugal: ‘You’re embarrassing yourselves’ – Carragher slams Rio Ferdinand, Morgan over Ronaldo