Following Portugal's 1-0 home defeat to Spain on Tuesday, Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has denounced suggestions that Cristiano Ronaldo should be dropped from the national team ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Ronaldo is currently undergoing a barren run in front of goal, having netted just once across his 10 appearances for club and country this season.
Read: Two Man Utd stars 'in battle' for Ronaldo's No. 7 shirt
The 37-year-old old has also been restricted to a bench role in Manchester of late, and while he started both of A Selecao's UEFA Nations League ties against Czech Republic and Spain in this international break, he managed only an assist against the former.
With the World Cup kicking off in November, there have been growing concerns about the player's apparent lack of form and struggles under United boss Erik ten Hag, with some feeling he should be dropped from national team duty.
Not everyone feels the same way, though. Speaking after Portugal's loss to La Furia Roja, who advanced to the semi-finals of the Nations League with their win, Fernandes leapt to his national skipper's defence, urging sceptics to not make a fuss about Ronaldo's current woes.
"There is no need to make great stories," the playmaker said, according to the Daily Mail.
"Cristiano is here, he is here to help, and he will continue to help.
"Cristiano is a forward; he wants to score goals.
"Frustration is normal, but there was no one more frustrated than anyone else.
Read: Why Ronaldo didn't join Man City revealed?
"We were all very frustrated – there is no need to make a soap opera around Cristiano."
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