Ronaldo says Portugal coach broke promises, apologises for walkout

Cristiano Ronaldo expressed frustration on Tuesday, accusing Portugal coach Jorge Jesus of breaking promises regarding his playing time in Nations League matches. In a detailed statement, the 41-year-old athlete apologized for leaving the national team camp and said he would serve any suspension if required. "I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team," Ronaldo stated.

Jesus had kept Ronaldo on the bench during a match against Norway, and not started him for the following game against Denmark. Ronaldo walked out of the team after feeling betrayed by Jesus's "broken word". "I owe an apology to my national team teammates for having left the camp," Ronaldo wrote, accepting responsibility for his actions. He also apologized to Portuguese fans, but emphasized that his decision was based on Jesus's failure to deliver on his commitments.

Ronaldo had initially agreed to a plan that would have him starting in both the opening and final home games, but not traveling for the matches in Norway and Denmark. When Jesus presented this plan, Ronaldo rejected it, arguing it would set a poor example for the captain to remain in Portugal while teammates traveled.

After the Norway game, Jesus asked if Ronaldo was fit to play for 30 minutes. Ronaldo agreed to warm up from half-time, but was not brought on. Ronaldo alleged that Jesus then failed to keep his promise to apologize in a press conference ahead of the Denmark game. Ronaldo said Jesus's subsequent press conference was markedly different from their earlier conversation, displaying an "aggressiveness" he had never witnessed before.

Ronaldo said he would accept any "suspension imposed" on him and acknowledged his captaincy status could be seen as a factor in his punishment by the Portuguese Football Federation. Portugal secured victories in all four Nations League matches, qualifying for the quarter-finals with two games remaining.