Cristiano Ronaldo says Portugal coach Jorge Jesus broke his word to him over an agreement reached to resolve their dispute, claiming it was the second time the manager had done so.

Ronaldo, the Portugal captain, makes the accusation in an official statement issued on Tuesday, explaining his decision to leave the national team’s training camp before the match against Denmark.

The 41-year-old forward had not featured in Portugal’s preceding match against Norway before leaving the camp.

Ronaldo says the dispute follows a private meeting involving himself, Jesus and Simão Coutinho, who had accompanied their discussions in August.

He says the meeting was “deep” and “very frank”, with both sides agreeing on how the matter should be addressed publicly.

According to Ronaldo, Jesus agreed to explain at his press conference that Ronaldo had never asked to play during the camp, that the coach himself had proposed a plan for the player and that putting him on to warm up without eventually bringing him into the game had been a mistake.

Ronaldo says Jesus also agreed that the incident would not happen again.

He adds that the meeting ended with the coach asking him for a hug and promising to repeat what had been discussed publicly.

“We ended that meeting with the coach asking me for a hug, promising me that he would say at the conference what he had just said to me, and that the matter would be overcome,” Ronaldo says.

He says it was also agreed that he would not play against Denmark but would feature in Portugal’s next match at the Dragão.

Ronaldo says a subsequent video conference involving Jesus, Coutinho and Tiago Craveiro was held at the coach’s request, after which a document summarising the agreement was prepared.

He says he personally approved the document and that it was delivered to Jesus with his knowledge.

But Ronaldo claims Jesus’ comments at the subsequent press conference did not reflect what had been agreed privately.

“The conference was what is known: the posture had nothing to do with our meeting; I heard expressions and an aggressiveness that I do not believe I deserved, an attitude of ‘I want, I can and I command’ that he never showed me, not even remotely, in private the day before.”

Ronaldo says the notes he approved contained eight key points that he expected Jesus to communicate publicly.

Among them was an acknowledgement that Jesus himself had proposed Ronaldo’s plan for the season, that Ronaldo had accepted it and that the forward had remained “exemplary, loyal and professional”.

The notes also stated that Ronaldo’s appearance in the Norway match had not originally been part of the plan.

Jesus was said to have acknowledged that he had made a mistake by asking Ronaldo to warm up without eventually bringing him onto the pitch.

“I made a mistake by putting someone of the stature of Pelé or Maradona on to warm up and then not putting him in the game. If it were today I would not do it,” the statement attributed to Jesus says.

Jesus was also expected to reaffirm his desire for Ronaldo to remain with the national team.

“To close the subject: I want Cristiano in the National Team. In fact I do not want him a little, I want him a lot,” the notes say.

The document also addressed Ronaldo’s decision not to greet supporters after the match.

Ronaldo admits that decision was his responsibility and apologises to the Portuguese supporters who travelled to watch the team and may have expected to see him.

“A failing that is solely my responsibility and that should not have happened. I apologise to the Portuguese who supported us intensely there, I apologise to the fans, and I apologise to those who, without being Portuguese, may have travelled there to see me and whom I may have disappointed.”

However, Ronaldo says the issue was already discussed privately and that the approved notes did not call for Jesus to apologise to him.

He argues that his reaction should not be interpreted as a lack of affection for Portugal, pointing to his long record with the national team.

“Someone who has played more than 230 matches for the national team does not receive lessons from me on love for Portugal,” the notes state.

The statement adds that Ronaldo is the player who gives the most autographs, takes the most selfies and shows the most affection to supporters.

Ronaldo concludes by directly accusing Jesus of breaking the agreement.

“None of these notes, therefore, said that the coach should even apologise to me.

“It was the second time he had broken his word to me.”

Faridah Abdulkadiri 

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