Ronaldo accuses coach Jesus of broken promises but leaves Portugal return open

Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo has accused Portugal coach Jorge Jesus of twice breaking his word, saying a failed agreement to publicly explain his omission against Norway drove him out of the camp but ​insisting he remained available after any punishment.

In a lengthy statement, the 41-year-old gave his ‌account of the dispute that prompted his departure from Copenhagen before Portugal’s Nations League match versus Denmark last week.

Ronaldo said Jesus had agreed a plan under which the forward would miss the Norway and Denmark matches to manage ​his fitness. However, on the day of the Norway game, the coach told him ​he would play for 30 minutes.

“Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from ⁠halftime onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn’t called on,” Ronaldo said.

“The manager had broken ​his word to me.”

Portugal’s captain and all-time leading scorer said a subsequent meeting with Jesus, attended by ​his club side Al Nassr’s sporting director Simao Coutinho, produced an agreement for the coach to clarify events at his next press conference.

According to Ronaldo, an eight-point document was prepared saying he had never demanded playing time, had ​respected Jesus’ decisions and that the coach asking him to warm…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/sports