Football
Mark Ogden, Senior Writer, ESPN FC 7y

Pepe: Cristiano Ronaldo is 'completely motivated' for Portugal amid turmoil

MOSCOW -- Cristiano Ronaldo is "completely motivated" for Portugal's Confederations Cup campaign and not distracted by the ongoing uncertainty over his Real Madrid future according to club and country teammate Pepe and national coach Fernando Santos.

Ronaldo, 32, will line up against World Cup hosts Russia in the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on Wednesday with the European champions aiming to secure their first victory in the competition following Sunday's Group A draw against Mexico in Kazan.

The former Manchester United forward has been at the centre of intense speculation over his future following reports that he has made an "irreversible decision" to leave Real after eight years at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Ronaldo was accused last week by a state prosecutor of four counts of tax fraud totalling €14.7 million. He is now under official investigation and will have to appear in court on July 31, when a judge will decide if there are grounds to charge him with a crime.

Ronaldo has yet to comment publicly on the matter, but despite the constant noise surrounding their star player, the Portuguese camp insisted on Tuesday that it is business as usual for Ronaldo and the team ahead of the Russia clash.

"We are professionals," Pepe said when asked whether the Ronaldo situation had become a distraction. "We are just thinking about doing our best in the Confederations Cup and to go as far as we can in this tournament. It's the first time Portugal plays in it, so it is a privilege for us all to be here.

"And as for Cristiano, he is one player who is completely motivated to help Portugal, as he has always done."

Portugal coach Santos, who guided the team to Euro 2016 glory last year, was asked whether Ronaldo's future had become an issue and if he believed he would still be a Real player next season.

But the former Greece coach dismissed the question by insisting his team would be focused on the game.

"I'm going to answer in Portuguese and tell you that tomorrow we have a very important game," Santos said. "All the players are concentrated and Cristiano Ronaldo is extremely concentrated with the Russian game which we will play.

"I expect my team to bring home the bacon at the right time. Remember they were part of the most brilliant history in Portuguese history just a year ago."

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