Bruno Fernandes warns of the division of the Portuguese people after Ronaldo withdrew from the national team camp

(CNN) - Player Bruno Fernandes warned of “the division of the Portuguese people” after his teammate Cristiano Ronaldo withdrew from the national team camp.

Ronaldo left the camp last Wednesday, amid allegations of a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus, due to his not participating in the matches.

Following his departure, the 41-year-old said on his Instagram account: “After the press conference of the national team coach (Jorge Jesus) and after a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation (Pedro Proenca), I made the decision to leave the national team camp.”

He added: "In due time, I will tell the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons that led to my departure from the national team, to which I have always been committed."

He continued: "Now it is time to wish success to Portugal and to all my teammates without exception."

On Saturday, during a press conference, Bruno was asked to comment on the incident of Cristiano’s withdrawal, and he replied, “As for Chris, I had a conversation with him and I think what I said to him, which I will repeat here, is that most of all, and no matter what happens, Chris will always and forever remain the greatest symbol of our national team.”

He continued: “The greatest symbol of our football... certainly, the greatest symbol of our country for everything he did, not only in Portugal but around the world.”

He continued: "I think he definitely has a place reserved for him, not only among the greats of history, but in the hearts of all the Portuguese people, and I think the most important thing now is to stop creating divisions, because there are no divisions within the national team. The team is one and will always remain united."

Bruno Fernandez stated: “We are far from all the controversy surrounding this issue, but what I ask again is that the country not be divided, that it does not take sides, that it experiences all of this as one entity, and that it respects and accepts all points of view.”

He concluded: “But at the same time, as I said, Chris is, and will always be, the greatest symbol of our national team, of our football, and also of world football, and he deserves the respect of all the Portuguese people, regardless of who loves him more or less.”

Bruno played alongside Ronaldo with the Portugal national team, and they also played together for Manchester United between 2021 and 2022.