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Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed eight key points he says Portugal coach Jorge Jesus acknowledged during discussions over his controversy with the national team.
Ronaldo included the points in his lengthy statement explaining why he left Portugal’s training camp, insisting that they demonstrated what had been agreed privately before Jesus later addressed the dispute publicly.
The Portugal captain said the discussions followed his decision to leave the camp after warming up against Norway without being introduced.
According to Ronaldo, these were the eight points contained in the notes from his discussions with Jesus:
1. Jesus personally proposed Ronaldo’s national-team plan
Ronaldo said Jesus acknowledged that the coach himself had proposed a specific plan for Ronaldo’s involvement with Portugal.
“I personally proposed a plan for Cristiano, without anyone else, for this sporting season with the national team. It was a very long and fruitful conversation.”
Ronaldo had previously explained that the plan involved him playing the first and last of four matches while sitting out the other two.
2. Jesus recognised Ronaldo’s importance to Portugal
Ronaldo said Jesus acknowledged his love for the national team and the influence he has had during his long international career.
“I know how much he loves the national team and his global standing, and even more than that, how positive his influence on the national team has been over 24 consecutive years.”
The statement was significant to Ronaldo because he had maintained that his commitment to Portugal had never been in question.
3. Ronaldo accepted Jesus’ proposed plan
Ronaldo said Jesus acknowledged that the proposed arrangement had been accepted.
“The plan I proposed to Cristiano was accepted.”
Ronaldo’s account suggests that the initial dispute was not caused by him rejecting Jesus’ authority or demanding to play every match.
4. Jesus said Ronaldo never questioned his decisions
Ronaldo said Jesus also acknowledged that he had behaved professionally and had not challenged his decisions.
“He never questioned my choices. He has been an example to follow, loyal, and professional.”
Ronaldo used this point to reinforce his argument that he had respected Jesus’ authority despite disagreeing with what happened in Norway.
5. Jesus acknowledged that Norway was not part of the original plan
Ronaldo said Jesus admitted that the Norway match was not originally included in the arrangement.
However, Jesus later believed Ronaldo had recovered sufficiently to play and warned him that he might be involved.
“The Norway match was not included in the plan I set out for him. However, I felt that he had physically recovered from the first match, and I warned him that I might have to involve him. Cristiano agreed.”
Ronaldo said he accepted the possibility of playing after being told he could feature for about 30 minutes.
6. Jesus admitted making a mistake by not using Ronaldo
This was the most direct admission in Ronaldo’s account.
Ronaldo said Jesus acknowledged that it was a mistake to make him warm up without eventually bringing him into the match.
“I made a mistake by having a player of the stature of Pelé or Maradona only warm up without involving him in the match. If it were today, I would not do it.”
Ronaldo said this was important because he had accepted the change to his recovery plan after being told he might play.
7. Jesus said he wanted Ronaldo in the national team
Ronaldo said Jesus made clear that he wanted him to remain part of Portugal’s plans and that he also trusted Ronaldo.
“And in short: I want Cristiano in the national team. In truth, I do not want him a little, but a lot. And fortunately, he too trusts me. He believed in me at Al-Nassr and here too.”
Ronaldo said the statement showed that the dispute was not about his desire to leave Portugal or his refusal to work under Jesus.
8. Jesus defended Ronaldo over his failure to greet fans
The final point concerned Ronaldo’s decision to leave the pitch without joining his teammates in greeting supporters after the Norway match.
Ronaldo said Jesus acknowledged that he had previously discussed the issue with him and rejected the idea that Ronaldo needed to be taught how to love Portugal.
“As for not greeting the fans, we talked about this matter earlier. A player who has played more than 230 matches with the national team does not receive lessons from me on loving Portugal.”
According to Ronaldo, Jesus described his reaction as a moment of frustration and pointed to his long-standing relationship with supporters.
“It was a moment of frustration that erases nothing. He is the player who signs more than anyone else, takes the most selfies, and shows the most affection to the fans. Let us not create problems out of nothing.”
Ronaldo said the eight points were important because they reflected what he believed had been agreed privately between himself and Jesus.
However, he noted that none of the points mentioned was a forced apology from Jesus over the wider dispute.
Ronaldo said that the omission of the truth in Jesus’s press conference was central to his decision to leave the camp, which he described as the result of a second broken promise.
The Portuguese Football Federation and Jesus have since indicated that the door remains open for Ronaldo to return, while Ronaldo himself has said he remains available after serving any punishment that may be imposed.
