(PHOTOS): Cristiano Ronaldo and Chelsea star moment spotted in Portugal training
Cristiano Ronaldo and Chelsea left-back Renato Veiga were observed exercising together while on international duty with Portugal on Tuesday. Roberto Martinez’s team will face Poland and Scotland in two Nations League games next week, looking to maintain their perfect record in Group A1.
Veiga, who has impressed since joining the Blues from Basel in July, gained his first Portugal call-up last month but did not play in the victories over Croatia or Scotland. He may make his national team debut during this international camp and appears to be doing well in training.
Pictures have emerged from Portugal training showing Veiga in action, with the 21-year-old tussling alongside legendary former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward Ronaldo. The duo could be seen performing a couple of exercises together – one of which involved them stretching their lower leg.
Another image appeared which showed Ronaldo and Veiga with their arms round each other, with Manchester City duo Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva ahead of them. Veiga does look like – as he has seemed to do at Chelsea – he has fitted in right in with his Portugal teammates at senior level.
Veiga has started five matches for the Blues since moving from Basel. He made his first start in the 2-0 win over Servette in the Europa Conference League in August and most recently starred in the 4-1 victory against Genk last Thursday, scoring his first goal for the club in that game.
Reflecting on his start to life in West London, Veiga told the official club website: “We have a really good group with great individuals and good values. We really like each other and are building a family, you could say. Everyone has integrated really well and the group is really together.
“There aren’t little groups within the squad like on other teams I’ve been on, but that happens and is normal. It’s special that here in Chelsea now, we have a big group, a big family, and everyone feels together.”
He added: “That’s what the manager wants, that we can swap a player but the ideas and the timings are there. It’s independent of the player that’s in each position. The manager wants us to be in the right place at the right time. So that’s what we try to do, to follow what he says. We just have to put our quality in and enjoy the game.”
