Cristiano Ronaldo has apologized for leaving Portugal camp midway through the international window, but also accused head coach Jorge Jesus of breaking promises in an extraordinary statement released on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Ronaldo walked away from his national team amid a spat with Jesus, departing Copenhagen on Wednesday, Sept. 30, one day before a UEFA Nations League match against Denmark.
The 41-year-old started and played 65 minutes in a 1-0 win over Wales on Sept. 24, Portugal’s first match of the window and the first match for Jesus, who took over from Roberto Martinez after the 2026 World Cup.
But the issue arose from Portugal’s next match, a 2-1 win over Norway on Sept. 27. Ronaldo was an unused substitute in that game, and angrily walked down the tunnel at the final whistle instead of acknowledging Portugal’s traveling fans with his teammates.
In Tuesday’s statement that went more than 2,000 words, Ronaldo began by saying that he had endorsed the appointment of Jesus after the World Cup, having previously worked with the 72-year-old at Al Nassr.
According to Ronaldo, Jesus convinced him to continue his international career and presented a plan for the first post-World Cup window to manage his workload: He would play the first and last matches in Portugal, and skip the intervening games in Norway and Denmark.
Ronaldo said on the day of the match in Norway, an assistant coach told him to prepare to play 30 minutes. Though that wasn’t part of the alleged plan, Ronaldo agreed. However, after warming up during the match in Oslo, Ronaldo was not put into the match. Angered, he rushed down the tunnel at the full-time whistle.
“The coach had broken his word to me,” Ronaldo said in his statement.
“At the end of the game, I just wanted it all to end with a victory and to be alone. I didn’t go to greet the fans. A mistake that is solely my responsibility and that shouldn’t have happened. I apologize to the Portuguese people who supported us intensely there, I apologize to the fans, and I apologize to those who, without being Portuguese, may have traveled there to see me and whom I may have disappointed,” the veteran forward added.
After the Norway match, Ronaldo met with Jesus and Al Nassr sporting director Simão Coutinho. At that meeting, Ronaldo said that he approved a list of talking points for Jesus to say at his next press conference.
Jesus was allegedly supposed to clarify that Ronaldo had never demanded to play against Norway, that he was “exemplary, loyal, and professional” and, among other talking points, the coach was allegedly going to utter the following line:
“I made a mistake by having someone of the stature of Pelé or Maradona warm up and then not put him in the game. If it happened today, I would not do it.”
But Jesus did not stick to the script during his press conference, which Ronaldo said was the last straw. He left camp that day.
“It was the second time he failed to keep his word,” Ronaldo said of Jesus.
Ronaldo apologizes, ready to accept punishment
Ronaldo concluded by apologizing to his teammates and saying that he was prepared to accept any punishment that was headed his way.
Notably, he did not declare that he would never play for Portugal again, whether under Jesus or any other manager. In fact, Ronaldo said he would be available for selection after serving an expected suspension.
“I also owe an apology to my teammates for abandoning the training camp,” he said. “Despite the complete breach of trust in the coach’s word, as anyone who witnessed these conversations can attest, I shouldn’t have done it. The responsibility is solely mine.”
He added: “The consequences of my actions must be evaluated and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation.
“I believe the punishment should not be mitigated. I am not just any player; I am the team captain, and that constitutes an aggravating factor. I have already apologized, but I know that actions must have consequences.”
The 41-year-old has made 234 appearances for Portugal, and is the all-time leading scorer in men’s international soccer history with 146 goals.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ronaldo apologizes for leaving Portugal camp, blames Jorge Jesus for broken promises
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