sport news Madeira's ex-president springs to defence under-fire Cristiano Ronaldo trends now
The ex-president of Madeira has leapt to the defence of Cristiano Ronaldo - telling Portuguese people to avoid 'envy and jealously' in regards to the country's 'most famous' individual.
Alberto Joao Jardim, who served as the President of the Regional Government of Madeira - where Ronaldo hails from - between 1978 and 2015 jumped to the defence of the superstar amid mounting criticism surrounding his interview with Piers Morgan.
First revealed on Sunday evening, Ronaldo spoke to Morgan in an extended interview for TalkTV in which he outlined his various gripes with Manchester United, Erik ten Hag and Ralf Rangnick among others.
Cristiano Ronaldo alongisde Alberto Joao Jardim receiving the Medal of Merit in Madeira
With videos emerging from Portugal's pre-Qatar World Cup camp at the City of Football, the country's national centre, showing Bruno Fernandes and Joao Cancelo giving Ronaldo a short shrift, he has come in for criticism for potentially destabilising their campaign before it has even begun in the Middle East.
However, writing on Facebook, Jardim leapt to the defence of Madeira's most famous son.
'The anti-Ronaldo campaign, the country at its worst: envy, bad language and ingratitude to the Madeiran who is the best known and most popular Portuguese in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo has said that he feels 'betrayed' by Manchester United over their actions
'Not any of the Lisbon nerds. Ronaldo, tell them to f*** off,' he wrote.
The situation surrounding the Portuguese has escalated in recent days with extracts of the interview having been drip fed every night since Sunday. Wednesday and Thursday sees the release of the full interview over two parts.
'I don't have respect for him
