Ronaldo claimed that Jesus had told him he would play 30 minutes against Norway but later reneged on the promise.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo has accused his national team head coach, Jorge Jesus, of “broken promises” as he explained his reasons for leaving the camp.
The 41-year-old football icon broke his silence on Tuesday in a lengthy statement shared on his official Instagram page.
Ronaldo left the national team squad in Copenhagen on the eve of a Nations League fixture against Denmark after being an unused substitute during a 2-1 win away to Norway on 27 September.
However, in the now-trending post, he cleared up doubts about his international future and declared himself available to play for Portugal after serving any potential suspension.
Addressing the uncertainty over his Portugal future, the Al-Nassr forward stated: “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.”
Ronaldo went on to claim that Jesus had told him on the day of the game that he would play 30 minutes against Norway, only to go back on his word.
”Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from half-time onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn’t called on,” the five-time Ballon d’Or winner said.
He added: “The manager had broken his word to me.”
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Ronaldo further clarified in the statement that there was no demand from him for Jesus to apologise, but that Jesus’ comments were not in keeping with the conversation they had behind closed doors.
”It was the second time he had broken his word to me,” the forward said. “I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises.”
He also apologised to his teammates and the Portuguese people over his departure from the squad, stating he will accept whatever punishment is handed down to him by the Portuguese Football Federation.
The forward, who is his country’s record appearance holder and goalscorer, added that he hopes his international career will not be limited to simply playing in a farewell game for Portugal.
Ronaldo added: “I have heard a great deal of talk about farewell matches, that I must have a dignified farewell and that the Federation wants to give me that opportunity. I learned in life, often hungry and with nothing to eat, that no one gives anything to anyone.
”I can promise all my fans, naturally and especially all Portuguese people, that we will have one or more farewell matches; there will be time for that. But when I think of the national team, what I really think of is competing.
”That is what I thought on the day I was given the news of my father’s death. I was at a camp with our national team and I decided to stay there until the end of the match the following day. I did for the country what I would never do for any club.”
