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Title: Cristiano Ronaldo Breaks Silence as Portugal Captain

URL: http://www.kickoff.com/news/91930/cristiano-ronaldo-portugal-captain-break

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Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence after being stripped of the Portugal captaincy, saying he is "proud" to have led the national team.

The 35-year-old was removed as captain by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) last week, with Manchester City's Ruben Dias taking over the armband.

Ronaldo, who has been playing for Juventus in Italy, had been under pressure after a series of poor performances with Portugal, including a 4-1 defeat to Switzerland in the Nations League.

However, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has now spoken out about the situation, saying he is "proud" to have been captain of Portugal.

"I'm proud to have been the captain of the national team," Ronaldo said in a statement. "I gave my all for the team and the country, and I will continue to do so."

Ronaldo also thanked the fans for their support, saying: "I want to thank all the fans who have always been with me, and I will continue to give my all for the team and the country."

The FPF had said that Ronaldo was removed as captain due to his "lack of availability" for the national team, with the player having missed several matches in recent months.

However, Ronaldo has now spoken out about the situation, saying he was not given a chance to explain himself before being stripped of the captaincy.

"I was not given the opportunity to explain myself before the decision was made," Ronaldo said. "I hope that in the future, the FPF will give me the respect and dignity that I deserve."

Ronaldo's comments come after he was criticized by some fans and pundits for his performances with Portugal, with some calling for him to be dropped from the team.

However, the player remains one of the most successful and popular players in the world, and his comments are likely to be seen as a response to the criticism he has faced.

Date: 2021-11-19