Sports07 October, 20262 min read
Cristiano Ronaldo Says Jorge Jesus Broke Promise, Demands Portugal Punish Him, Won’t Retire
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Ronaldo left Portugal training camp amid a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus ahead of Nations League. He accuses Jesus of twice breaking his word on playing time and explanations.
Ronaldo demands punishment
Cristiano Ronaldo said he will not retire from the national team and insisted he deserves punishment after leaving Portugal’s Nations League camp, telling reporters, "The Portuguese Football Federation should evaluate the consequences of my actions and punish me accordingly." Ronaldo, the 41-year-old Al Nassr forward, said he left the camp after head coach Jorge Jesus twice "broke his promise" and after Ronaldo claimed Jesus told him he would play for 30 minutes against Norway but then did not call him on.
“I will not retire from the national team.”
Ronaldo said he warmed up from halftime onwards and watched the minutes tick by "and wasn't called on," adding, "The manager had broken his word to me." Ronaldo also said he is physically fit, continues to play for his club, and wants to represent Portugal "as long as he can score goals," while insisting he will be available after any suspension ends.
Jesus denies agreement
Jorge Jesus said on Sunday that there was no rift with Ronaldo and left the door open for him to play for Portugal, while Ronaldo maintained that the dispute followed a failed agreement over his involvement against Norway and Denmark. Ronaldo said the plan was for him to miss both matches to manage his fitness, but he claimed that on the day of the Norway game Jesus told him he would play for 30 minutes.
Ronaldo said a subsequent meeting produced an agreement for Jesus to clarify events at his next news conference, and Ronaldo described an eight-point document prepared to reflect what he said was agreed privately. Ronaldo said, "It was the second time he had broken his word to me," and he added, "I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises."
Portugal’s next steps
Portugal’s Nations League campaign continued without Ronaldo, and the Colchester Gazette said Portugal ensured top of Group A4 with four straight wins after victories over Denmark and Norway. Ronaldo said he would serve any suspension imposed by the Portuguese Football Federation and that the consequence of his walkout "must be assessed and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation," while also saying he believes the punishment should have no mitigating factors.
“Portugal are top of Group A4 with four straight wins.”
Ronaldo said he apologised to his national team teammates for leaving the camp and to the Portuguese people, while insisting he remains committed to competing and winning for the national team. Ronaldo said he would be available "after serving the suspension that may be applied to me" and promised that he is not retiring, even as he suggested he would eventually reveal more about the dispute.