Ronaldo opens up on fall-out with Portugal coach, apologises for leaving camp
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up on what transpired between him and the team’s coach which led to him leaving the camp last week.
The Al-Nassr forward left the team’s camp after being an unused substitute against Norway and then finding out he would not start against Denmark.
In a lengthy post on X, Ronaldo accused the team’s coach, Jorge Jesus of breaking his word twice while also blaming him for asking him to warm up without allowing him to play against Norway.
He wrote: “I told the President of the Federation that, in my opinion, it would be the right choice to quit after the World Cup.
“That is why, on the day the current head coach was presented, I was genuinely happy with the choice. It was the right option, as the results are confirming.
“He told me he was counting on me and that my presence was fundamental to his project. He presented me, right there, with a plan for my participation. He told me I would play the first match and the last one, and that for reasons of physical management he would always make three to four changes per match.
“I refused this proposal immediately. It seemed obvious to me that I could not accept it. It was not because I would not play the matches abroad that I would stop captaining our team. That privilege of staying in Portugal would not be a good example.”
Ronaldo said he was surprised that the coach changed his mind after promising to play him for 30 minutes against Norway.
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He continued: “To my absolute surprise, the coach asked me if I was fit to play 30 minutes. I was fully focused on my physical recovery… Without any problem. This request was something outside my physical recovery and training plan — because I was only going to play on the 4th at the Dragão — but of course I said yes. He replied that I should then be ready because I would play 30 minutes.
“The rest everyone knows. I warmed up from half-time, watched the minutes go by, and was not called. The coach had broken his word to me.”
The Al-Nassr captain apologised to his teammates, and to the country in general while asking the Portuguese FA to punish him for leaving the team’s camp.
Ronaldo concluded: “I have heard a great deal of talk about farewell matches, that I must have a dignified farewell and that the Federation wants to give me that opportunity. I learned in life, often hungry and with nothing to eat, that no one gives anything to anyone.
“I can promise all my fans, naturally and especially all Portuguese people, that we will have one or more farewell matches; there will be time for that. But when I think of the national team, what I really think of is competing.
“Therefore, if I am physically well, playing at my club, scoring goals I hope, after serving the suspension that is applied to me, I will be available, as I always have been until today, to compete and win for our National Team.
“This is, believe me, the purest of truths.”
Ronaldo has scored 146 goals in 234 Portugal appearances – both world records – helping them win Euro 2016 and the Nations League twice.
In Ronaldo’s absence, Portugal defeated Norway and Denmark and they will return to action against Wales in November.
