Ronaldo accuses Jorge Jesus of promises, calls him Pelé and Maradona
Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41‑year‑old striker of Portugal, has for the first time openly accused the new national team coach Jorge Jesus of not keeping agreements, after he left the training camp following a disappointment during the match against Norway, which beat Portugal 2‑1.
Ronaldo's Instagram‑statement
Ronaldo posted an extensive statement on his Instagram account, where he has 679 million followers, and backed up his complaint with ten slides. He wrote: “I didn’t feel like dealing with any more broken promises.” The post also featured a photo of his dissatisfied face and the text “His word is broken.”
Agreements about Norway and Denmark
In the preparation for the new season, Ronaldo and Jesus agreed that the forward would miss the matches against Norway and Denmark. On the day of the Norway match, however, Jesus said that Ronaldo would play 30 minutes, but he did not take the field. Ronaldo explained that from the second half he was warming up and watched the minutes pass without taking part.
Ronaldo apologises to the national team and reopens the door for Portugal
Confrontation and press mistake
Disappointed, Ronaldo did not publicly thank his teammates and later offered apologies for leaving the camp. He emphasized his role as captain and stated that his behavior therefore carries more weight. Two days later he had an “intense and very direct” conversation with Jesus, in which it was agreed that the coach would open the press conference with the correct version of their agreements. Ronaldo recalled that the previous season he became champion in the Saudi Pro League with Al‑Nassr together with Jesus.
Jesus' reaction and open door
After Portugal’s 2‑1 victory over Norway, Jesus denied that he had made any agreement with Ronaldo. He did, however, indicate that the door remains open for a possible return of the star player. Jesus stated that he has not made any commitments that Ronaldo mentions in his statement.
Cristiano Ronaldo accuses Jorge Jesus of not keeping the promise
Ronaldo's possible return
Ronaldo does not rule out a return: “If I am physically fit, play for my club and hopefully score goals, I will, after serving the suspension imposed on me, be available as I have always been.” He ends with the words: “Believe me: this is the full truth.”