Jorge Jesus has responded to Cristiano Ronaldo’s statement about the disagreement between the pair during Portugal’s camp in Denmark, which led to the Al Nassr forward leaving the squad.
Ronaldo said the Portugal manager had broken promises over an agreement concerning his involvement in UEFA Nations League matches. In a lengthy statement released yesterday, the forward apologised to the Portuguese people and said he accepted that he should be punished by the Portuguese Football Federation.
Jesus addressed the statement this morning, according to Portuguese newspaper Record, after Ronaldo disclosed details of the events that preceded their argument.
“I have read the statement,” Jesus told reporters waiting outside his home. “Now, as I do every day, I will go to the federation to work and to think about the team and the Portugal national team. I have nothing more to say.”
Ronaldo said that, before the dispute, a short document had been prepared and “given to the coach at his request”. It contained eight points which Jesus was expected to mention during the news conference before Portugal’s match against Denmark.
However, Ronaldo claimed that “none of what was discussed was carried out in front of the media”.
The statement also included an apology to the Portuguese public and Ronaldo’s acknowledgement that disciplinary action from the Portuguese Football Federation would be justified.
Jesus had said yesterday that he had not read the statement when it was published. At the time, he was watching Portugal Under-21s, although he confirmed he knew that Ronaldo had issued it.
The disagreement between the manager and captain resulted in Ronaldo’s departure from the Denmark camp. Jesus’ latest comments, delivered without addressing the specific allegations, were his first response after reading the forward’s account of the dispute.
Ronaldo’s statement had set out his version of discussions about his role in Portugal’s Nations League fixtures, including the document he said had been prepared at Jesus’ request and the points he expected the manager to cover publicly.