Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo has publicly accused his coach, Jorge Jesus, of breaking promises to him on two separate occasions. In a detailed statement, Ronaldo explained that he left the Portugal training camp in Copenhagen before a Nations League match against Denmark last week. He cited a disagreement over his playing time in a match against Norway as the reason for his departure. Ronaldo claimed that Jesus had agreed to a plan for him to miss the matches against Norway and Denmark to maintain his physical fitness.
According to Ronaldo, Jesus changed the plan on the day of the Norway match, telling him he would play for 30 minutes. However, Ronaldo claimed that Jesus did not ask him to play, despite having warmed up since the end of the first half. Ronaldo stated that Jesus had broken his promise to him, leading to his decision to leave the training camp. He also mentioned that a meeting was held later, attended by Jesus, himself, and the sports director of his club, Al-Nassr, Simão Coutinho.
Ronaldo revealed that the meeting resulted in an agreement, documented in eight points, which stated that he had never demanded to play in the matches and had respected Jesus' decisions. The document also noted that Jesus' request for Ronaldo to warm up without playing was an error. Ronaldo emphasized that the agreement did not require Jesus to apologize, and that Jesus' subsequent public statements were unrelated to their private discussion.
Ronaldo expressed his disappointment with Jesus' actions, stating that this was the second time Jesus had broken a promise to him. As a result, he decided to leave the training camp without waiting for further promises. Jesus had denied making any agreement with Ronaldo after Portugal's win over Norway, but left the door open for Ronaldo's return. The Portuguese Football Federation had not commented on Ronaldo's statement at the time of reporting.
Ronaldo apologized for not greeting the fans after the Norway match and for leaving his teammates, acknowledging that his actions, as captain, had consequences. He stated that he was willing to accept any punishment from the Portuguese Football Federation. Despite the controversy, Ronaldo emphasized that he did not intend to end his international career, stating that he would be available to play for Portugal if he was in good physical condition and form.
Ronaldo's statement provided his account of the events, but it was not clear how the situation would be resolved. The Portuguese Football Federation had not commented on the matter, and it was uncertain what actions would be taken against Ronaldo. Jesus had previously denied making any agreement with Ronaldo, but had not provided further details on the matter.
The incident has raised questions about the relationship between Ronaldo and Jesus, as well as the governance of the Portuguese national team. Ronaldo's international career has been a subject of interest, and his statement has sparked a debate about his role in the team. The situation will likely be closely watched by fans and the media in the coming weeks.
Key points
- Cristiano Ronaldo accused coach Jorge Jesus of breaking promises to him on two separate occasions.
- Ronaldo left the Portugal training camp due to a disagreement over his playing time in a match against Norway.
- The incident has raised questions about the relationship between Ronaldo and Jesus, as well as the governance of the Portuguese national team.
