"Cristiano Ronaldo is a legend, but walking away from the Seleção wasn't his finest hour"

António Salvador did not shy away from commenting on the biggest talking point in Portuguese football over recent days. The SC Braga president is currently in Toronto, Canada, attending the 40th-anniversary celebrations of Arsenal do Minho — following yesterday's reception, tonight features a gala gathering hundreds of members from the Portuguese-Canadian community — where he addressed the controversy alongside club matters.

Appearing as a guest on the 'Ora Cá Tamos' podcast, the Braga chief gave a candid assessment: "Cristiano Ronaldo is a legend of Portuguese football, the greatest ever, and his legacy will endure. It will be very difficult for any Portuguese player to replicate what Cristiano has achieved. I think everyone, both in Portugal and across the world, must respect Cristiano. Regarding what took place, I cannot comment in detail because I do not know the full story. However, considering what he represents to our nation, walking away from the Seleção wasn't our captain's finest hour. Upon reflection, perhaps he wouldn't make that decision today; it was likely done in the heat of the moment. What matters now is that Portugal stay focused on the objective, which is winning matches, as they have been doing. Now with Jorge Jesus, a manager I know well from his time at SC Braga in 2008/09, I know his quality and what he can bring to the national team. The proof is that he has stepped in and secured three straight wins in three very tough fixtures. Now it's about focusing on Sunday's match at the Dragão [against Norway] to keep winning."

Salvador expressed his delight at being in Canada surrounded by Portuguese supporters, many of them Braga fans, and reaffirmed his commitment to building his legacy at the club by striving for "more and better." "It is a great pleasure and a source of pride to return to Toronto and Canada to be among our people. It is fantastic to see the Casa do Arsenal do Minho thriving as it celebrates 40 years. I am currently the longest-serving president in Portuguese football, reaching 24 years in the role this February. I have dedicated myself to this club with passion, hard work, and enthusiasm, which motivates me every single day to set new goals and keep improving. In this case, speaking about the Portuguese diaspora here in Toronto, sport is culture. Within this community, sport is a bond that keeps us connected and passionate. Even from a distance, the Portuguese never forget their roots," he stated.

The long-standing Braga supremo also revealed plans to open an SC Braga academy in Canada, expanding on existing international initiatives: "SC Braga's goals this season involve continuing to grow and work toward becoming an even bigger club on the global stage. Over the last 20 years, our profile has grown significantly across Europe and worldwide, and we want to keep growing alongside our community. We are currently expanding into other countries, having opened 'Guerreiros do Futuro' academies in China and Colombia, and we are in talks to open one here in Toronto. It makes total sense given the vast Portuguese community we have in Canada."