Portugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo has publicly detailed his dispute with national team head coach Jorge Jesus, accusing the manager of breaking his word during the national team’s latest camp.
In a statement, Ronaldo said, Jesus initially presented a plan that would see him play Portugal’s opening and final matches of the camp while being rested for the trip to Norway and Denmark.
Ronaldo said he rejected the proposal to remain in Portugal, insisting that staying behind would set a poor example for the national team captain.
According to Ronaldo, Jesus later asked him unexpectedly to prepare to play 30 minutes against Norway, despite his recovery plan. Ronaldo said he warmed up from half-time but was ultimately not introduced.
He described the decision as the first breach of trust, claiming Jesus subsequently agreed to explain the situation publicly and acknowledge that he had made a mistake.
However, Ronaldo said the coach instead adopted an aggressive tone at the ensuing press conference, contradicting what had been agreed privately.
Ronaldo published notes he said, he had personally validated, in which Jesus acknowledged that he had proposed Ronaldo’s participation plan, that the forward had accepted it without questioning his decisions, and that Ronaldo had never demanded playing time.
READ MORE: Ronaldo Leaves Portugal Camp Amid Tensions With Coach Jesus
Jesus was also quoted as saying he had made a mistake by asking Ronaldo to warm up and then leaving him on the bench, comparing the situation to putting “someone of the stature of Pelé or Maradona” through such a process.
Ronaldo said the disagreement ultimately led him to leave the national team camp.
He accepted full responsibility for his departure, apologised to his teammates and Portuguese supporters, and said he expected the Portuguese Football Federation to punish him.
The veteran forward also rejected suggestions that his priority was receiving a farewell from international football, saying his focus remains competing and winning for Portugal.
Ronaldo confirmed that, provided he remains physically fit and completes any suspension imposed on him, he intends to remain available for the national team.
“I can promise all my fans, naturally and especially all Portuguese people, that we will have one or more farewell matches,” Ronaldo said, while stressing that competition not a ceremonial farewell is what matters most to him.
The statement concluded with Ronaldo insisting that his account represented “the purest of truths”.
