Piers Morgan has turned on Portugal manager Jorge Jesus, branding him “an arrogant prick” after the national team handed Cristiano Ronaldo’s No. 7 shirt to Rafael Leão less than 24 hours after the 41-year-old left Portugal’s camp.
Leão, who normally wears No. 17, started in the No. 7 shirt as Portugal beat Denmark 4-2 at Parken in Copenhagen on Thursday evening, with Bruno Fernandes wearing the captain’s armband in Ronaldo’s absence. João Cancelo, Gonçalo Ramos, Vitinha and João Félix scored for the visitors; Mikkel Damsgaard and Rasmus Højlund replied for Denmark. UEFA’s pre-match squad list had already confirmed Leão’s switch to the shirt Ronaldo has worn throughout his international career.
Writing on X, Morgan called the decision shameful.
“Disgusting, if true. After everything Cristiano has done for Portugal, why the hell are they treating him like this? Yesterday was his father’s birthday, and he played for his country the day after his dad died. Shameful to see this shocking disrespect for their greatest player.”
His verdict on Jesus was blunter.
“What an arrogant prick!”
From a bench in Oslo to a walkout
Ronaldo spent the full 90 minutes on the bench on 27 September as Portugal beat Norway 2-1 at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, with João Félix opening the scoring, Erling Haaland equalising for the hosts and Gonçalo Ramos settling it after the break. It was the first time Ronaldo had been named among the substitutes for a Portugal fixture since September 2024.
Days later, Jesus told reporters that Ronaldo would again begin on the bench for the Denmark match. Ronaldo left the camp on Wednesday and travelled home.
Read also: £830m bombshell emerges from Man City case as club prepares appeal
‘He’s an icon and that’s not in question’
Jesus has promised a full account of the breakdown only once Portugal’s current fixtures are played, but struck a conciliatory tone this week.
“Nobody can take away what Cristiano represents. He’s an icon and that’s not in question.”
Ferdinand joins the defence
Morgan is not Ronaldo’s only prominent defender. Rio Ferdinand, his former Manchester United teammate, also backed him publicly.
“Where were Portugal before Cristiano Ronaldo? What have they ever done?”
Read also: Tottenham have already identified Roberto De Zerbi replacement
Ronaldo has not said whether he has played his final match for Portugal, and no retirement announcement has been made. Jesus has said he will address the subject in full after the current international window closes.
Read also: Joan Laporta tried to make major Barcelona move – he was stopped mid-sentence
