Modric was asked about it minutes after Croatia had lost 2-1 to Spain in the Nations League on Tuesday, a late Mikel Merino double overturning Ivan Perisic’s early opener and sending Spain through to the quarter-finals.

“No, no, I haven’t spoken to him. It’s difficult for me to say anything because I don’t know exactly what happened. I haven’t followed the situation too closely because I have my own problems here. It’s sad to see this happening to him in his own country,” the Croatia captain told reporters.

Modric did not pretend to be across every detail. What he was clear on was the ending.

“I don’t know exactly what happened, but I hope the situation gets resolved. Because Cristiano is the greatest player in the history of Portugal, and he deserves another farewell and another ending with the national team.”

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“Still, I think they will find a solution, because Cris deserves, whether he retires or decides not to continue with the national team, to have a great farewell that reflects what he deserves.”

The accusation that lit the fuse

Ronaldo had broken a week of silence hours earlier with a lengthy statement on his own channels, accusing Jesus of an “absolute breach of trust” over the Nations League window.

He said Jesus had promised him 30 minutes against Norway, only for him to warm up from half-time without ever being called on. Ronaldo said he then left the camp before the Denmark fixture.

“The coach had broken his word to me,” Ronaldo wrote in the statement, which he said was the “purest of truths”.

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He apologised to teammates and supporters for walking out and said the Portuguese Football Federation should decide any sanction for his conduct as captain. He also insisted he was not retiring, and asked for “one or more farewell matches” when his international career did eventually end.

Jesus denies the deal

Jesus has rejected the idea of any agreement about the Norway minutes, but has stopped short of closing the door on Ronaldo.

Modric’s intervention lands as perhaps the most pointed outside voice in the row. He and Ronaldo played 222 games together at Real Madrid between 2012 and 2018, winning four Champions League titles in that time. The two captains met again in July at the World Cup, where Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in the round of 32.

Whether Ronaldo’s international career resumes is now in the hands of the Portuguese Football Federation, which the player himself has asked to rule on his walkout.

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