Cristiano Ronaldo broke his silence regarding his departure from Portugal’s training camp and explained, in his own words, what happened with Jorge Jesus during the recent international break.
In a lengthy statement released on Tuesday, October 6, the forward claimed that the Portuguese coach broke his word on two occasions, a situation that ultimately led to his departure from the national team’s training camp.
According to Cristiano, Jorge Jesus initially presented him with a game plan in which he would play the first and last matches of the camp, with three to four substitutions per game to manage his fitness. Under that plan, the match against Norway was not included.
However, on the day of the match in Oslo, an assistant coach approached Cristiano during lunch to ask if he was fit to play for 30 minutes. The forward replied that he was, and was told to get ready because he would be playing. Cristiano warmed up during halftime, but the minutes passed, and he never took the field.
The Portuguese player explained that after the match he spoke with Jorge Jesus and that the two agreed on a way to resolve the situation. According to his account, the coach was supposed to explain later at a press conference that Cristiano had never asked to play, that the original plan did not include his participation against Norway, and that it had been a mistake to have him warm up without then sending him onto the field.
Cristiano claimed that this public statement did not happen as they had agreed. The forward stated that he sensed an attitude and aggressiveness he considered unwarranted, as well as a stance that, according to his account, he had never before perceived from the coach during their private conversations. For Cristiano, this was the second time Jorge Jesus had broken his word. For that reason, he decided to leave the training camp without waiting for another promise.
“For me, the truth remains the most important thing in relationships between people,” wrote the Portuguese captain, who also made it clear that he has never interfered in technical or tactical decisions during his nearly 25-year career.
Despite his frustration with the coach, Cristiano took responsibility for leaving and apologized to his teammates, Portuguese fans, and those who traveled to see him play. He also asked the Portuguese Football Federation to evaluate and sanction his behavior without mitigating the punishment. The forward considered that, as captain, his position actually constitutes an aggravating circumstance.
Cristiano, however, made it clear that his departure from this training camp does not mean he has decided to retire from the Portuguese national team. The forward noted that there will still be time to discuss one or more farewell matches, but he assured that his priority remains competing with Portugal. Furthermore, he stated that he will be available for the national team once he has served whatever suspension is imposed, provided he is in good physical condition and continues to play for his club.
Cristiano concluded his statement by asserting that this is “the absolute truth” and reaffirming his willingness to compete and win again with Portugal.
