Portuguese winger Francisco Conceição has come under severe scrutiny and cyberbullying from fans of his national team captain, Cristiano Ronaldo. This backlash was triggered by Conceição’s remarks during a media interview concerning team dynamics and player responsibilities.
During the interview, a journalist inquired whether Portuguese players often feel the pressure to always pass to Ronaldo, even when he is not in a favorable position. Conceição responded candidly, stating that while Ronaldo is unparalleled in finishing attacks, players should not focus solely on him during matches.
“Not at all. When it comes to finishing attacks, there’s no one better than Cristiano Ronaldo. But we don’t have to give the ball only to him. During the game, I pass to whoever is in the best position. It all happens instinctively. Cristiano is here to help the team, just like any other player in the squad.”
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His comment, where he referred to Ronaldo as “just like any other player,” sparked outrage among some of Ronaldo’s most passionate supporters. This resulted in over 9,000 negative comments appearing on Conceição’s Instagram post within a few hours.