Cristiano Ronaldo is once again at the centre of controversy after liking a post by Felipe Melo. The dispute surrounding the forward, Portugal’s national team and coach Jorge Jesús had seemed to calm somewhat. But the gesture has reignited discussion. Ronaldo, aged 41, reacted to a post in which the former Brazilian player defended him and also took aim at his teammates.
In a video, Melo criticised what he saw as a difference in the way Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are treated. “I see more respect from opponents when they play against Ronaldo than from his own teammates,” he said, before referring to a Napoli player and an altercation with Jorge Jesús. He also said Ronaldo’s teammates did not show him enough regard.
Melo made clear that he backed Ronaldo over Jorge Jesús: “I am firmly on Cristiano’s side.” He added, however, that if he were shown Ronaldo had been disrespectful and that his departure had been agreed, he would admit he was wrong. Ronaldo’s response to that stance was to like the post — a gesture that put him back at the heart of the controversy.
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