Portugal stand firm on Premiership duo

Appeals by Manchester United and Chelsea to Portugal’s football bosses not to take Cristiano Ronaldo and Tiago to the Olympics have failed.

The Premiership giants want the players with their clubs in preparation for the new season but Portugal want the duo on national team duty as they take aim at the gold medal at the Athens Games.

“The Portuguese Football Federation have rejected requests by Chelsea and Manchester United not to include Tiago and Cristiano Ronaldo, respectively, from the Olympic Games,” said federation spokesman Felipe Felix to PA International.

“If it had been friendly games, we may have considered this option but the Olympic Games are an official competition and the FIFA regulations are very clear regarding this.”

Ronaldo had an outstanding European Championships as Portugal finished runners-up to Greece.

He is now in his second year at Manchester United, where he established himself as one of the club’s top players last season.

Tiago has only recently signed for Chelsea from Benfica and will be playing under compatriot Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.

The call-ups mean the pair are likely to miss the first six games of the new Premiership campaign.