Cristiano Ronaldo has presented a public apology for quitting the Portugal national squad during the previous week following a dispute with new head coach Jorge Jesus, while confirming his intention to return to international football.
The 41-year-old captain admitted full responsibility for his departure and stated that he expects to be sanctioned by the Portuguese Football Federation before making himself available for selection again.
Ronaldo left the team base in Copenhagen on Wednesday aboard his private jet after being left as an unused substitute during Portugal's UEFA Nations League match against Norway. He stated on Tuesday that the responsibility for leaving the gathering was exclusively his, offering an apology to both his teammates and the Portuguese public.
Dispute with Jorge Jesus
The disagreement began when Jorge Jesus initially proposed that Ronaldo play only home matches and skip away fixtures in Norway and Denmark. Ronaldo rejected the offer, insisting he should remain with his teammates. Before the Norway game, Jesus asked if he could play for 30 minutes, to which Ronaldo agreed and warmed up from half time, but he was never brought onto the pitch.
Ronaldo accused the new national coach of breaking his word. He added that after an explanation between the two men, Jesus promised to issue a public apology, which the manager did not deliver. Ronaldo explained that he felt his presence would only harm the squad from that point onward, prompting him to pack his bags and leave.
Ronaldo is the record goalscorer in international football history for Portugal, having scored 146 goals in 234 caps. The veteran forward is a five-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, the prestigious individual honour awarded annually to the best player in world football.
Federation disciplinary action
Acknowledging that his position as team captain served as an aggravating circumstance, Ronaldo said he expects to face disciplinary action from the national governing body. Under the official regulations of the Portuguese Football Federation, known as the FPF, leaving a national team camp without permission carries a penalty of a suspension lasting between one and six months, in addition to a fine.
The UEFA Nations League is an international competition contested by European national teams. Despite the controversy in Copenhagen, Portugal have performed strongly in the tournament, winning all four of their Nations League matches so far. The team won their final three matches without Ronaldo to secure early qualification for the quarter-finals.
Ronaldo emphasized that he remains open to representing his country again once his penalty is completed. He declared that if he is physically fit after serving his suspension, he will be fully available to play and win with the national team.
