Cristiano Ronaldo's Mother Reveals Tears and Support Amidst Portugal Squad Walk-Out
Dolores Aveiro discusses the emotional impact of her son's departure from the national team and expresses her belief that he is not fully valued.
Cristiano Ronaldo's mother, Dolores Aveiro, has disclosed that she experienced sadness and tears following the forward's unexpected departure from the Portugal squad. The incident occurred after Ronaldo was an unused substitute in Portugal's 2-1 victory over Norway in the UEFA Nations League on September 27.
In her first public comments on the matter, Aveiro, 71, described the event as a 'shock,' noting that her son left the team's camp 'through the back door' rather than the main entrance. "I cried a little. It's good too, to let go. We have to turn this around," she stated.
Aveiro also shared details of her initial conversation with Ronaldo after the news broke. She recounted her son telling her, "Mom, don't worry, I'll tell you the truth when we're all together." To which she responded, "OK, son, get over it." She affirmed her unwavering support for him, though acknowledged his decision was his own.
She expressed a sentiment that Ronaldo, despite his significant contributions to Portugal, is not as highly valued as he should be. "He gave a lot to Portugal, so he's always there. He was always Portugal's hero. They're not valuing him as they should. They don't value Cristiano. He's the Portuguese player we have," Aveiro said.
Ronaldo himself issued a lengthy statement on Tuesday, accusing head coach Jorge Jesus of a 'breach of trust.' The forward stated that an agreement for managing his game time during the Nations League fixtures was altered, leading to his decision to withdraw. He also claimed that Jesus did not uphold a commitment to help explain his frustrations in a press conference.
Ronaldo apologized to his teammates and the Portuguese public in his statement, asserting that his actions should face consequences and would be assessed by the Portuguese Football Federation. He also indicated his availability for future national team duty.
Head coach Jorge Jesus confirmed on Wednesday that he had read Ronaldo's statement but declined to comment further, stating he was focused on preparing the team. Earlier, Jesus had indicated that Ronaldo could return to the national team if he wished.
Ronaldo's departure led to him missing Portugal's subsequent matches against Denmark and Norway, both of which Portugal won, securing their top position in Group A4 and fueling speculation about the end of his international career.