Bruno Fernandes has rejected suggestions that he struggles to play his best football alongside Manchester United and Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 27-year-old had another productive season for the Red Devils in 2021-22, scoring 10 goals and registering 14 assists in 46 appearances in all competitions.
However, Fernandes did find it difficult to show his best form for periods of the campaign, and there were claims that Ronaldo's arrival last summer upset the balance of the side.
The former Sporting Lisbon playmaker has insisted that he enjoys playing alongside the 37-year-old amid the ongoing speculation surrounding the forward's future.
"No, I don't think so (did Ronaldo upset the balance of the side). I am there to serve my strikers and I think we had an amazing start to the season. When Cristiano came in he scored two goals in his first game and I scored one and after that, I scored many goals playing with Cristiano," Fernandes told Sky Sports News.
"I think all of my goals I was playing alongside Cristiano, so I don't think that was the problem at all. I play with him for Portugal and that will never be the problem because good players can fit together at any time at any point."
Ronaldo has not been involved in Man United's pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia due to a personal issue, while he has also allegedly told the club that he wants to leave this summer.
Fernandes has recently admitted that he does not know whether his club and international teammate wants to depart the 20-time English champions in the current market.
"I don't know what Cristiano said to the club and to the manager. I don't know what's going on in his head, if he wants to leave. I didn't ask them that," Fernandes told reporters.
"Obviously, Cristiano was our top scorer last season, he added goals to us. But it's not on me, it's the club that has to make the choices and Cristiano makes his own choice. From everything we know, he had some family problems so we have to respect his space, give him some space and that's it.
"The only thing I asked Cristiano when he didn't turn up was if everything was okay with the family. He told me what was going on, that's it and nothing more. I don't want to be involved in that. We have to respect the decision of everyone."
Ronaldo scored 24 goals and registered three assists in 38 appearances at club level during the 2021-22 campaign, but Man United will not play in the Champions League in the new season, which is allegedly one of the main reasons why the striker wants to depart.
"Cristiano Ronaldo situation? I spoke to him weeks ago, so I expect to meet Cristiano on day four for the pre-season trainings - and there's nothing else", Fernandes told Record last month. "I don't think Man United are open to lose a top resource like Cristiano."
Man United continue to insist that Ronaldo is not for sale this summer, while Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid have allegedly ruled themselves out of the running for his signature.
However, talk of a switch to Atletico Madrid is gathering pace, with Diego Simeone's side believed to be working out whether they could afford to bring the former Sporting Lisbon youngster to Wanda Metropolitano. body check tags ::
