Cristiano Ronaldo has accused Portugal coach Jorge Jesus of breaking his promise over playing time during the Nations League, while insisting that he remains available to represent his country.
The 41-year-old forward also apologised for leaving Portugal’s training camp and said he was prepared to accept any suspension imposed on him.
Ronaldo Apologises for Leaving Portugal Camp
In a lengthy statement, Ronaldo apologised to his Portugal teammates and supporters for walking out of the national team camp.
He accepted responsibility for his decision and said he understood that he could face disciplinary action from the Portuguese Football Federation.
Ronaldo maintained, however, that his decision was influenced by what he described as a breakdown of trust between himself and Jesus.
Disagreement Over Ronaldo’s Playing Time
The dispute began during Portugal’s Nations League campaign.
Jesus left Ronaldo on the bench for the match against Norway. Before the following game against Denmark, the coach reportedly told Ronaldo that he would not start.
Ronaldo said this followed an earlier plan in which Jesus had discussed managing his involvement during the international window.
According to Ronaldo, the initial plan included him starting the opening and final home matches while not travelling for the away fixtures in Norway and Denmark.
The forward rejected that proposal because he felt it would send the wrong message for the national team captain to remain at home while his teammates travelled.
Ronaldo Claims Coach Failed to Keep His Promise
Ronaldo said that before the Norway match, Jesus unexpectedly asked whether he could play around 30 minutes.
The Portugal captain agreed and warmed up during the second half, but was ultimately not brought onto the pitch.
Ronaldo said he felt the coach had failed to keep his word.
As Portugal’s most-capped player and leading international goalscorer, Ronaldo said the incident significantly affected his trust in the coach.
Second Disagreement Before Denmark Match
Ronaldo said he later spoke with Jesus and that they agreed the coach would apologise during a press conference before the Denmark match.
However, Ronaldo claimed that Jesus’s comments during the subsequent news conference differed from what they had discussed privately.
He described the tone as unusually aggressive and said it represented another failure to keep an agreement.
Ronaldo then decided to leave the national team camp rather than remain for what he feared could be further disagreements.
Ronaldo Accepts Possible Suspension
Despite criticising the coach, Ronaldo accepted that his decision to leave the camp was wrong.
He apologised to his teammates and said he was willing to serve any suspension imposed by the Portuguese Football Federation.
Ronaldo also acknowledged that, as captain, he should be held to a higher standard and that his position could be considered an aggravating factor when disciplinary measures are decided.
Ronaldo Remains Available for Portugal
Despite the dispute, Ronaldo made clear that he remains committed to the national team.
He said he would continue to be available to represent Portugal and compete for victories with the team.
Portugal have enjoyed a strong Nations League campaign, winning all four of their matches and securing qualification for the quarter-finals with two games still to play.