Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo said his own future ‘doesn’t matter’ and stressed he’s ‘focused on winning the European Championship’.
The rumours of a possible move away from Juventus this summer has followed Ronaldo to Euro 2020, but the veteran insists he’s not bothered by the constant reports regarding his future.
Portugal start with a game against Hungary on Tuesday and Ronaldo wants to remain ‘positive’ from day one.
“I have been playing at the highest level for 18 years. It doesn’t really bother me,” Ronaldo said at a press conference. “If I was 18 or 19, I don’t think I would sleep thinking about the future.
“Now, I’m 36. If I’m staying? It doesn’t matter now. What happens will be for the best.
“Now I’m focused on the European Championship, I want to win and I want to have positive thoughts from the first to the last game.”
Games against Germany and France follow in Group F, and Portugal must cope without Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo, who tested positive for COVID-19.
Cancelo has been replaced by Diogo Dalot, who spent last season on loan at Milan.
“It won’t be a big factor right now. The more we focus on something, the more we concentrate on that,” Ronaldo said about Cancelo’s absence. “It was a shame that Joao tested positive, but we’re not worried about that.
“We haven’t even talked about COVID-19. It’s a topic that tires everyone. Unfortunately we have to live with it. In my opinion, this team is focused on the game.
“It will be the first European Championship game for many of them. The rest doesn’t affect this team. We respect all the rules but we are focused on the pitch.”
Ronaldo said he will play wherever he is needed, ‘to help the team win’.
“I feel comfortable playing up front, as always,” Ronaldo said. “Left, right, front, back, wherever it’s best to help the team win.
“That’s the most important thing, regardless of the fact that I play in the position that I like the most. Any position suits me. The important thing is to win and help the national team.”
Ronaldo is the first player to play in five European Championships.
“I’m not overwhelmed, it’s a good record. But the most important thing will be to try to win the Euros again. We are working well, since the first training session,” the talisman continued.
“We are all ready and tomorrow I hope we can start on the right foot. It’s important to start with a win.
“The fans will be on our side, but it’s nice to play in a full stadium: I’m ready.”
Ronaldo said he would prefer to win the opening game, but said it doesn’t matter as long as Portugal go all the way.
“It’s always better to start with a win. But if you tell me that if we lose tomorrow, we would win the European Championship, then I would choose that option,” he said.
“However, we are ready, physically and emotionally. Our players are young, I’m convinced we will have a great European Championship and that all the players are ready.”