Cristiano Ronaldo cuts relaxed figure for World Cup as he touches down in Qatar
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Cristiano Ronaldo landed face down in Qatar ahead of the 2022 World Cup as he appears to be ignoring the fact that he is about to be sacked by Manchester United.
Ronaldo landed in Doha late Friday night with his Portuguese teammates as he gears up appearing in his fifth World Cup.
Many countries had already arrived in Qatar ahead of the tournament, which starts on Sunday, but Portugal have now joined the party, albeit a little later than most other countries.
Much of the conversation revolves around Ronaldo following his tell-all interview with Piers Morgan, which aired this week.
But the 37-year-old was caught smiling as he boarded the airport transfer shuttle after getting off their private team jet.
Cristiano Ronaldo was smiling when he and his Portuguese teammates arrived in Qatar
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner does not seem concerned about the club situation
Manchester United are furious with Ronaldo after his revealing interview with Piers Morgan
Ronaldo showed no signs that the events in Manchester, in which they started the process to sack him after the interview, are bothering him.
Pictured meeting with fans as part of a broadcast back in Lisbon, Ronaldo happily posed for photos with enthusiastic fans.
He was also more than happy to sign autographs for fans as they waved goodbye to the Portugal squad from Lisbon airport.
Ronaldo was absent from Portugal’s final pre-tournament friendly on Thursday night, but his first media appearance in Qatar will prove fascinating amid a flurry of questions expected to come his way.
Ronaldo (left) was all smiles as he posed for photos with fans ahead of the 2022 World Cup
The 37-year-old stopped to sign autographs as they boarded a plane to Qatar at Lisbon airport
Ronaldo made a relaxed figure, despite Manchester United considering firing the attacker
The former Real Madrid star cut a relaxed figure purely focused on helping his country through the winter tournament, rather than worrying about his future at Old Trafford.
It comes after it was revealed earlier on Friday that Manchester United have taken the first steps towards kicking Ronaldo out of the club over his stellar interview with Piers Morgan.
Sports mail understands that United have started the legal process to effectively fire Ronaldo by tearing up his £500,000-a-week contract without paying the Portuguese star a penny of the £16million he would have earned until it expired in June.
Manchester United say they have taken ‘appropriate steps’ in response to Cristiano Ronaldo’s stellar interview – kicking off process of firing Portuguese star
United’s lawyers are satisfied that Ronaldo has breached the terms of his contract with his explosive accusations against the club, the Glazers, manager Erik ten Hag and his teammates.
The interview aired in two parts on Wednesday and Thursday after a slew of teaser clips aired since the weekend.
United said earlier this week they would consider their response once the full facts were established, and issued a statement on Friday.
It read: ‘Manchester United have taken appropriate action this morning following Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent media interview. We will not comment further until this process is complete.”
This is United’s first public statement since the interview aired
However, it is clear that it involves initiating legal action to cancel the contract. United do not want to pay Ronaldo any compensation as it would be seen as a reward for infidelity.
The Glazers, general manager Richard Arnold, director of football John Murtough and Ten Hag decided that Ronaldo has burned his bridges at Old Trafford and there was no way back for him at the club.
They rejected the idea of more disciplinary action after Ronaldo was dropped last month and forced to train alone after he walked away from the victory over Tottenham Hotspur for refusing to come on as a substitute.
Ronaldo was dropped and forced to train alone as he walked away from the victory over Tottenham
Ronaldo’s teammates also expect him to leave in what he described as “ambivalent” on Friday morning.
Sportsmail revealed earlier this week that United are consulting lawyers over whether his comments constitute a breach of his £500,000-a-week contract.
United’s hierarchy wanted to wait until the full TalkTV interview had aired – which was in two parts on Wednesday and Thursday evenings – before deciding whether to take any action.
Ronaldo will now go to the World Cup in Qatar with Portugal and will be away from United
Ronaldo instigated the interview with Morgan, timed to coincide with the World Cup break when he will be away from United with Portugal for at least three weeks.
Ronaldo will now serve internationally with Portugal until they are eliminated from the World Cup.
Their opening match in Group H is against Ghana next Thursday.
Ronaldo played no part in Portugal’s pre-season friendly against Nigeria on Thursday after contracting the stomach flu.