Cristiano Ronaldo has released a 1,996-word statement claiming Portugal manager Jorge Jesus broke an agreement to read an eight-point apology at a press conference.
The 41-year-old forward walked out on the national team and flew home on his private jet after he was an unused substitute during a 2-1 Nations League victory against Norway. Ronaldo warmed up but did not play, marking the first time in 18 years he had gone a full game for his country without playing a minute, aside from injuries and suspensions.
In his statement released on Tuesday night, Ronaldo said he had agreed with Jesus and Simao Coutinho, the sporting director of his Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, that the manager would clarify the situation.
According to the forward, Jesus had promised he would play 30 minutes at the end of the match. Ronaldo said the failure to bring him on was a broken promise, leading him to storm down the tunnel at the final whistle. He said he wanted to be alone and did not greet the fans.
Ronaldo said he, Jesus and Coutinho had decided the only resolution was a public explanation. The statement included the exact eight points he expected the manager to read.
The eight-point apology
The notes Ronaldo expected Jesus to deliver included a confession that the manager had made an error by putting a player of the stature of Pele or Diego Maradona out to warm up without bringing him on.
The eight points read:
- 1. I myself, and no one else, proposed to Cristiano a plan for him this sporting season with the National Team. It was a long and very good conversation.
- 2. I know how much he lives and loves the national team and the weight he has in the world, and even more the weight and the positive influence he has had on the national team for 24 consecutive years.
- 3. The plan I proposed to Cristiano was accepted.
- 4. He never questioned my options. He was exemplary, loyal and professional.
- 5. The match in Norway was not part of the plan I drew up for him. However, I felt that he had managed to recover physically from the first match and I warned him that I might have to use him. Cristiano agreed.
- 6. I made a mistake by putting someone of the stature of Pelé or Maradona on to warm up and then not putting him in the game. If it were today I would not do it.
- 7. To close the subject: I want Cristiano in the National Team. In fact I do not want him a little, I want him a lot. Fortunately he also believes in me. He believed at Al Nassr and he does here as well.
- 8. About not greeting the fans. We have already spoken about that. Someone who has played more than 230 matches for the national team does not receive lessons from me on love for Portugal. It was a moment of frustration that erases nothing. He is the player who gives the most autographs, takes the most selfies, and shows the most affection to the fans. Let us not invent problems where they do not exist. When we are not happy we react.
Ronaldo claimed Jesus went off-piste during the press conference instead of reading the agreed text. He said he heard expressions and aggressiveness from the manager that he did not believe he deserved.
"There was an attitude of 'I want, I can and I command' that he never showed me, not even remotely, in private the day before," Ronaldo wrote.
Summer talks and resignation offer
The rift follows talks during the summer between Ronaldo and the president of the Portuguese Football Association. Ronaldo said the president contacted him to convince him to delay his possible international retirement, telling the player they wanted him to continue.
During those summer discussions, Ronaldo said he recommended his former Al-Nassr manager Jesus for the national team job and was genuinely happy with the choice.
Following the Norway match, Ronaldo said he offered his resignation to the manager and the head of the association, but both reiterated their desire for him to stay.
The player apologised to the travelling supporters for his decision to walk down the tunnel rather than clapping for them. He also apologised to his teammates for leaving the camp and accepted he will face disciplinary action.
"I have never interfered with a tactical or technical decision of a coach in 25 years of playing football," Ronaldo wrote. "I did what I have always said I would do if I did not feel useful: I packed my bags and left."
Ronaldo said his punishment from the federation should have no mitigating factors, adding that his status as team captain is an aggravating factor. He confirmed he remains available for selection once any suspension is served, calling it the purest of truths.
"If I am physically well, playing for my club, with goals I hope, after serving the suspension that may be applied to me, I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team," he said.
Manager and teammates respond
Jesus has won all four of his matches since taking charge of Portugal. Speaking two days ago, the manager said it was a live possibility that Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner who turns 42 in February, would return to the squad.
"It's up to Cris to decide his own life," Jesus said. "In the next call-up, if Cris is playing and wants to be in the national team, why not? Resentment? Nothing, it was a misunderstanding. In my opinion, it's easy to resolve. When will I resolve it? I don't know. The game is over, and only afterwards will we know how things will turn out."
Jesus said reaching an agreement requires both people to talk, and noted that the scrutiny comes from Ronaldo's status as a symbol of the team.
"How many players warmed up today and didn't come on? Will there be a problem? No," Jesus added. "With Cris it's different, he's a symbol. But is it a problem? For me it wasn't a problem. If Cris wants to and is playing for Al-Nassr, he'll be in the next squad. We talked before this squad and we can talk before the next one. It's Cris who will decide."
Members of the Portugal squad have expressed hope that their captain will return. Fullback Nuno Mendes told Sport TV after the Norway game that the group is united and would welcome him back with open arms.
Joao Cancelo added that Ronaldo is the best player Portugal has ever had. "As Bruno Fernandes already said, Cristiano is our captain, he is the symbol of our national team, he is the best player Portugal has ever had and things will certainly end in the best way," Cancelo said.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo's 32-year-old wife Georgina Rodriguez posted a deleted message on social media defending her husband. She wrote that she did not know how Jesus could carry the name of Christ, and posted a fabricated quote attributed to former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The fake quote, which appeared to be generated by artificial intelligence, read: "If Jorge Jesus knew in his heart that he had no intention of using him, then why did he call him up in the first place? To make a point? That's not authority, that's insecurity." Ferguson has not spoken publicly about the situation.
