Cristiano Ronaldo has stated his continued availability to play for the Portuguese national team, offering a detailed account of his recent dispute with coach Jorge Jesus that led to his departure from the squad.
Ronaldo left the national team camp last week after being an unused substitute in Portugal's 2-1 UEFA Nations League victory over Norway on September 27. He described the decision to leave as his own, stating that he believed the coach, Jorge Jesus, had broken a promise regarding his playing time.
In a lengthy statement, Ronaldo expressed hope for a future farewell match. "If I am physically fit, playing for my club, scoring goals, I hope, that after serving whatever suspension is imposed on me, I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team," he said.
Ronaldo alleged that Jesus initially told him he would play 30 minutes against Norway. "I was completely focused on my physical recovery, integrated with my teammates as always, and thinking that I would not play that day. I had no problem with that," Ronaldo stated. "This request was outside my physical recovery and training plan — because I was only supposed to play on Oct. 4 at the Dragão — but obviously I said yes. He told me to be prepared because I would play 30 minutes."
He added, "Everyone knows what happened next. I warmed up from halftime, watched the minutes go by, and was not called upon. The coach had broken his word to me."
Following the match, Ronaldo claimed a meeting occurred with Jesus and sporting director Simao Coutinho, where an agreement was made for Jesus to clarify the situation at a press conference. An eight-point document was reportedly created to summarize that Ronaldo had not demanded minutes and that Jesus considered it a mistake not to play him after he warmed up.
However, Ronaldo said Jesus's demeanor during the subsequent press conference was unexpectedly aggressive. "I heard expressions and an aggressiveness that I believe I did not deserve, an attitude of ‘I want, I can, and I command’ that he had not shown me, not even remotely, in private the day before," he said. "It was the second time he had broken his word to me."
Ronaldo acknowledged that his abrupt departure had impacted his teammates and fans, calling it a decision he "should not have done."
He also indicated that he expects some form of sanction from the Portugal Football Federation. "I have heard a lot about farewell matches, that I deserve a dignified farewell and that the [FPF] wants to give me that opportunity," he said. "I can promise all my fans, and especially all Portuguese people, that we will have one or more farewell matches. There will be time for that."
Ronaldo recalled a past commitment to the national team, stating, "When I think about the national team, what I really think about is competing. That is what I thought about on the day I was told of my father’s death. I was at a national team training camp and decided to stay until the following day’s match was over. I did for my country what I would never have done for any club."
Portugal's next international matches are scheduled for November. When asked for comment on Ronaldo's statement, coach Jorge Jesus told outlet CMTV on Tuesday, "I am going to read the note now, and I have nothing else to say."
