Cristiano Ronaldo given backing despite leaving Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes ‘angry’

Wes Brown has admitted that Bruno Fernandes will likely be "angry" after being substituted early in Portugal's match against France.

But he insists Cristiano Ronaldo deserved to remain on the pitch. Ex-Manchester United star Brown, who boasts an impressive collection of five Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies, pointed out that despite Ronaldo's less than stellar performance at Euro 2024, his influence is too significant for him to be benched.

Brown also mentioned that Ronaldo's missed penalty in the round of 16 against Slovenia wouldn't have fazed him during a shootout, as his mentality hasn't wavered since his time at Old Trafford.

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Speaking on Reach's new Euro Thrash podcast - available on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify - Brown said: "There is a lot of respect in that team for Ronaldo." He recounted how Ronaldo took charge of a free-kick that wasn't even on his preferred side, simply because of his eagerness to score.

Brown believes that the players would naturally assume that Ronaldo wouldn't be taken off, especially considering this could be his last Euros, reports the Mirror. Additionally, the ex-United defender suggested that Portugal's coach Roberto Martinez was likely keen to avoid the media storm that would follow if he decided to substitute the 39-year-old.

When questioned whether keeping Ronaldo on the field indicated weak management, Brown disagreed, stating: "I don't think it is. He is still that guy who can get you a goal. I don't think there is anyone else in that team who has been scoring outright.

"Yes, he wasn't playing particularly well, but I don't think