Borussia Dortmund forward Fabio Silva feels that playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal's squad is a privelege instead of a hinderance in his chances of seeking matchtime with the squad.
The 24-year-old is all set for an international return for the first time since November 2024 as his explosive form at the start of the 2026-27 season with the BVB has caught Selecao manager Jorge Jesus' attention.
However, the Euro 2016 champions are packed to the rafters with attacking talents, spearheaded by none other than Ronaldo himself, who's opted to continue playing for the national team after the World Cup heartbreak.
The 41-year-old evergreen star is chasing the elusive 1000-goal milestone and wants to leave no stone unturned in his quest to achieve it as soon as possible, with either his club or country.
A retirement would have open the doors for young talents to come in, but his presence is still seen as a 'pleasure' by Silva.
Speaking on the opportunity of training alongside the Portuguese great (and perhaps playing on the pitch too), he said:
"I think it's more of a pleasure to be here and learn from him. He's an idol for me, I've always been inspired by him and I wanted to have the opportunity to be around him."
Silva's only appearance for Portugal's national team was in November 2024, coming off the bench in their 1-1 Nations League draw with Croatia where he was also booked for a foul deep in extra-time. Ronaldo though, wasn't in the matchday squad that day.
He further added that being in Ronaldo's orbit gives him a chance to learn and improve, which he called an 'honor'.
"I will try to learn from him and understand what I can improve in my game. Everyone knowns his value and it is an honor to be here with him."
He also reserved special praise for Portugal's new coach Jorge Jesus, who replaced Roberto Martinez after the World Cup, and is enticed by how players get better under his wings.
"I've worked with Jorge Jesus before, but I don't need to tell you what he's achieved. I want to learn a lot from him. Players usually improve when they work with him."
Hailing his tactical astuteness, the Dortmund forward also said:
"The coach pays a lot of attention to these aspects and understands the game very well. You can see why he has reached where he is. Our job is to listen to him and implement what he asks."
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