Portugal, Ronaldo: “Jorge Jesus went back on his word”
ROME (ITALPRESS) – Despite Portugal topping their group and securing mathematical qualification for the Nations League quarter-finals, the Cristiano Ronaldo-Jorge Jesus “feud” continues to dominate the headlines in Portugal. Tonight, the player released a statement in which he once again criticised the national team coach: “Jorge Jesus went back on his word.”
“This is the truth about what happened with Jorge Jesus. As promised, I decided to speak out personally and directly about the events surrounding the national team’s latest camp. After the 2026 World Cup, I prepared a letter to the Portuguese people, which I still have, containing the words I wanted to address to them when I eventually left the national team for good. At the end of the tournament, already on the flight back from the United States, the president of the Football Federation insisted that I reconsider my decision to leave, because the FPF wanted me to continue,” CR7 wrote.
“Immediately afterwards, he asked for my opinion on the name of the current head coach, whom he was considering alongside other candidates whose names he did not reveal to me. I told the federation president that, in my view, he would be the right choice. That is why, on the day the current head coach was presented, I was genuinely happy with the decision. It was the right choice, as the results have confirmed,” Ronaldo added.
“A few days later, I had my first contact with the new national team coach, who told me he would like to meet me in person. I agreed, and we arranged to meet at the end of my holiday. We met at the Cidade do Futebol, where my club was holding its pre-season training camp. That day, the coach told me that he was counting on me and that my presence was fundamental to his plans. He outlined a plan for my involvement right there and then. He told me that I would play the first and the last match and that, for reasons of physical management, he would always make three or four substitutions per game,” CR7 continued.
“At that point, he suggested the possibility of not travelling with the national team to Norway and Denmark. His proposal was for me to play the first match and remain in Portugal, before rejoining the squad ahead of the match at the Do Dragão. I immediately rejected the proposal. It seemed obvious to me that I could not accept it. It certainly wasn’t because I would not be playing the away matches that I would cease to be the team’s captain. Having the privilege of remaining in Portugal would not have set a good example. The coach ultimately agreed with my assessment. Simao Coutinho, Al Nassr’s sporting director, was also present for this conversation. He is the person the current coach referred to throughout last season and one of those responsible for his appointment by the club in 2025,” the Portuguese star explained.
“On the evening the training camp began, the coach came to my home in Lisbon, at his own request, for another meeting. The conversation was calm, and everything we had agreed upon in August was confirmed. I played the match at Alvalade and, despite being substituted, I did not make an issue of it. I myself handed the captain’s armband to Bruno Fernandes, never imagining that it could be my final gesture as a player and captain of the national team,” the statement continued, as quoted by the Iberian press.
“That day, what mattered to me was our victory. Winning is always special; in Portugal and for my country, even more so. At lunchtime on the day of the match in Norway, one of the coach’s assistants approached the table where the squad was having lunch and told me that the coach wanted to speak to me. To my great surprise, the coach asked me if I was able to play 30 minutes. I was completely focused on my physical recovery, integrated with my teammates as always, and I thought I would not play that day. I had no problem with that. This request was outside my recovery and training schedule, since I was only supposed to play on the 4th at the Do Dragão, but of course I said yes. He replied that I should then be ready because I would play 30 minutes. The rest is known to everyone. I warmed up from half-time, watched the minutes tick by and was not called upon to come onto the pitch,” Ronaldo concluded.
– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
Source: medNews
