Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed he has no plans to retire from international football as he lifted the lid on his feud with head coach Jorge Jesus.
Ronaldo walked out of the Portugal squad for their UEFA Nations League matches on September 30 after being left as an unused substitute during their 2-1 win at Norway on September 27 and learning that he would not start against Denmark on October 1.
Upon doing so, the 41-year-old said that ‘in time’ he would ‘tell the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons’ behind his departure.
And on Tuesday evening, came that moment as the iconic forward took aim at Jesus for ‘breaking his word’ and also insisted he is not quitting playing for his country.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s statement on Jorge Jesus
In a lengthy statement, the forward gave his account of the dispute that prompted his departure from Copenhagen, claiming that Jesus had agreed a plan under which would see him would miss the Norway and Denmark matches to manage his fitness. However, on the day of the Norway game, Jesus told him he would play for 30 minutes.
‘Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from half-time onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn’t called on,’ Ronaldo said.
‘The manager had broken his word to me.’
Portugal’s captain and all-time leading scorer said a subsequent meeting with Jesus, attended by his club side Al Nassr’s sporting director Simao Coutinho, produced an agreement for the coach to clarify events at his next press conference.
According to Ronaldo, an eight-point document was prepared saying he had never demanded playing time, had respected Jesus’ 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.
‘It was the second time he had broken his word to me,’ Ronaldo said. ‘I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises.’
The statement provided Ronaldo’s account but on Sunday, after Portugal’s win over Norway, Jesus denied he had made any agreement with the player but left the door open for his return.
Ronaldo apologised for failing to greet supporters after the Norway match and for leaving his team mates, accepting that his captaincy made his conduct more serious.
‘The consequences of my actions must be assessed and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation,’ he said.
Ronaldo rubbishes retirement talk
Despite the rupture, Ronaldo said he was not limiting his international ambitions to a farewell appearance.
‘I can promise all my fans, and naturally especially all Portuguese people, that we will have one or more farewell matches. There will be time for that.
‘If I’m physically fit, playing for my club – scoring goals, I hope – after serving whatever suspension is imposed on me, I’ll be available, as I’ve always been until now, to compete and win for our national team.’
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