Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from Portugal’s training camp this week was not an impulsive walkout, Edu Aguirre’s account suggests, but a reaction to a promise Jorge Jesus made in private and did not keep in public.
Speaking on El Chiringuito on Thursday night, Aguirre said Jesus had met Ronaldo alongside Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença after Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway in Oslo on Sunday 27 September, and had apologised directly for making the 41-year-old warm up for close to 30 minutes without bringing him on.
Jesus, Aguirre said, promised to repeat that apology at his pre-Denmark press conference and to admit publicly that the handling of the Norway match had been a mistake. At the podium, the manager went the other way.
“That’s why Cristiano explodes,” Aguirre said, according to Yahoo Sports.
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“Cristiano explodes because of that. Because he feels betrayed.”
Jesus denies there was any fallout
Jesus addressed the matter at his press conference and in an interview with Portugal’s Sport TV on Wednesday, taking the position that there was no rift to describe.
“There was no incident whatsoever,” Jesus told reporters, per Yahoo Sports.
The manager said he had informed Ronaldo before kick-off in Oslo that he would not start, with Gonçalo Ramos preferred up front, and framed the choice as a routine coaching call.
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“Afterwards, as coach, I decided not to bring him on. It’s nothing to make a fuss about,” Jesus said.
He also set out his authority in blunt terms, as reported by Sky Sports.
“I can promise whatever I want, I’m the coach. No player will ever make a decision for me.”
Ronaldo’s own words
Hours after the press conference, Ronaldo confirmed his exit on social media.
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“Following the national team manager’s press conference, and after a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I decided to leave the national team’s training camp,” Ronaldo wrote.
“In due course, I will tell the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons behind my departure from the national team, to which I have always been dedicated.”
Jesus also managed Ronaldo at Saudi club Al Nassr.
Portugal win 4-2 in Copenhagen
Portugal played their Nations League tie at Parken on Thursday night without their record cap-holder, winning 4-2 with Rafael Leão wearing the number 7 shirt and João Félix, João Cancelo, Vitinha and Gonçalo Ramos on the scoresheet.
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Portugal face Norway again at home on Sunday 4 October, with Jesus saying he will give a fuller account only once that match is played.
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