Cristiano Ronaldo has provided a typically confident response on social media to accusations that he had breached Italian coronavirus rules.
"Don't let what you can't do stand in the way of what you can do," the Juventus superstar posted on Instagram, along with a picture of him smiling and relaxing by a swimming pool.
The 35-year-old has been isolating at home in Turin since testing positive for the coronavirus and leaving the Portuguese national team camp ahead of a Nations League match against Sweden.
On Thursday, Italian Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora said in an interview with RAI public radio that Ronaldo had breached Italian virus protocols by flying in and out of Italy to join the Portuguese squad.
Ronaldo and other foreign Juventus players left Italy last week to join their national teams, while the Italian Serie A champions were quarantining following two positive cases among club staff.
In a later Instagram live video, Ronaldo denied any wrongdoing, said he was feeling well, without any symptoms of Covid-19, and hoped to be back soon on the pitch.
"I did not break any protocol," the striker said. "It is all a lie."
Australian Associated Press