Cristiano Ronaldo apologized to the Portuguese public and his international teammates on Tuesday, taking exclusive responsibility for leaving the national team training camp last week and stating his readiness to return once he serves a disciplinary suspension.
Apology Issued by the Portugal Captain
The 41-year-old forward addressed his sudden departure in a detailed statement released on Tuesday. La responsabilité est exclusivement la mienne. Je présente mes excuses aux Portugais (…) et à mes coéquipiers de sélection pour avoir quitté le rassemblement,
Ronaldo wrote, as reported by outlets including Radio-Canada. He added that if he remains physically fit after serving any suspension handed down by the Portuguese Football Federation, he will be available to play and win for the national team. The Al-Nassr striker, who has scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal, had promised the previous week to tell the truth in due time regarding the dispute that threatened to end his international career.
Broken Promises Behind the Departure
The friction stemmed from events surrounding Portugal’s UEFA Nations League match against Norway on September 27. According to the player’s account in the statement, head coach Jorge Jesus promised to use him as a 30-minute substitute during the fixture in Norway. Ronaldo warmed up at halftime as instructed but was ultimately left on the bench. Le manquement à la parole a, pour moi, un impact déterminant,
Ronaldo stated, explaining that he packed his bags because he felt his presence would harm the group if he could no longer contribute usefully. He also noted that he had been consulted following the World Cup regarding the appointment of Jorge Jesus, which he considered the correct choice based on current results, before the misunderstanding over his physical recovery plan and playing time occurred.
Ronaldo Clashes with Coach Jorge Jesus
Prior to Tuesday’s apology, ESPN sources indicated that Ronaldo had issued an ultimatum stating he would not return to the national team while Jorge Jesus remained in charge. The rift widened after Jesus told reporters following the 2-1 defeat to Norway that the door remained open for the veteran star, emphasizing that the player himself would decide his international future. Ronaldo expressed deep frustration over those remarks, asserting in his statement that the coach used an aggressive tone and an autocratic attitude during subsequent discussions that contradicted private agreements. Ronaldo had expected the coach to explain the situation through multiple points at the beginning of the subsequent press conference, but felt betrayed when the public statements did not match their private meeting.
Ronaldo Demande Une Sanction Sans Circonstances Atténuantes
Je considère que la sanction ne doit pas comporter de circonstances atténuantes, continue-t-il, je ne suis pas un joueur quelconque, je suis capitaine d’équipe et cela constitue une circonstance aggravante,
he noted, asking the Portuguese federation to evaluate and sanction his conduct without leniency. ESPN requested a comment from the Portuguese Football Federation regarding the incident.
Undefeated Nations League Campaign
While the disciplinary drama unfolded off the pitch, Portugal’s squad maintained strong form on the field. The team secured victories in all four of its Nations League group fixtures, winning the last three matches without Ronaldo to clinch qualification for the tournament’s quarterfinals with two group matches remaining.
Federation yet to Announce Ronaldo Suspension Terms
The Portuguese Football Federation has not yet announced the specific duration or terms of the suspension Ronaldo requested. The national team’s next competitive fixtures in the UEFA Nations League group stage remain on the calendar as the squad prepares for the upcoming quarterfinal round.
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