Cristiano Ronaldo has accused the Portugal head coach, Jorge Jesus, of twice breaking his word, saying a failed agreement to publicly explain his omission against Norway drove him out of the camp but insisting he remained available after any punishment. In a lengthy statement, the 41-year-old gave his account of the dispute that prompted his departure from Copenhagen before Portugal’s Nations League match against Denmark last week. Ronaldo said Jesus had agreed a plan under which the forward would miss the Norway and Denmark matches to manage his fitness.
However, on the day of the Norway game, the coach told him he would play for 30 minutes. I warmed up from half-time onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn’t called on,” Ronaldo said. According to Ronaldo, an eight-point document was prepared saying he had never demanded playing time, had respected Jesus’s decisions and that the coach asking him to warm up without bringing him on had been a mistake.
Ronaldo said the agreed notes did not require Jesus to apologise to him but said the coach’s public remarks bore no resemblance to their private discussion. The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Ronaldo’s statement. Ronaldo apologised for failing to greet supporters after the Norway match and for leaving his teammates, accepting that his captaincy made his conduct more serious.
Despite the rupture, Ronaldo said he was not limiting his international ambitions to a farewell appearance.
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