“I cried a little, it was a shock,” Dolores Aveiro said in an interview with Portuguese outlet TV7 Dias, reacting to the conflict between her son Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal national team coach Jorge Jesus.
Cristiano Ronaldo departed Portugal’s national team training camp following a broken promise regarding playing time, according to reports. The situation escalated when Ronaldo leveled sharp criticism at Jorge Jesus in a lengthy public statement, detailing how the coach failed to honor an agreement made ahead of a Nations League match against Norway.
Dolores Aveiro Speaks Out on Her Son’s Departure
The sudden exit from the national team camp deeply affected Ronaldo’s family. Speaking to TV7 Dias, Dolores Aveiro described the turmoil and her emotional reaction to the dispute. She stated that her son could have left through the front door rather than the side, but expressed faith that the situation would resolve itself.
Aveiro also defended her son’s legacy in Portuguese football, telling TV7 Dias that he has always been the country’s hero and that he is not valued as highly as he should be. Ronaldo flew home via private jet after remaining on the bench for the full 90 minutes against Norway, subsequently missing the remaining fixtures of that camp.
Jorge Jesus admits mistake in failing to substitute Ronaldo against Norway
The conflict centers on a specific agreement between Ronaldo and Jorge Jesus. The 41-year-old forward stated that Jesus promised he would play for 30 minutes against Norway. Ronaldo warmed up from halftime but was never substituted onto the pitch.
The eight-point set of notes that Ronaldo and Jesus allegedly agreed upon to address the fallout before a subsequent match against Denmark were highlighted by The Guardian. The notes included points where Jesus acknowledged making a mistake by having a player of Ronaldo’s stature warm up without playing. However, Ronaldo left the camp after Jesus failed to read or present these points during a scheduled press conference.
Ronaldo’s Apology to Fans and Future in the Squad
Despite the rift with the coaching staff, Ronaldo issued an apology to supporters who traveled to see him play, acknowledging that the situation caused disappointment. He clarified in his statement that his international career is not over and that official farewell matches will take place in the future.
Ronaldo remains open to continuing his national team career while accepting any potential disciplinary measures from the Portuguese Football Federation.
Dolores Aveiro reacts to the dispute between Ronaldo and Jorge Jesus
Why did Cristiano Ronaldo leave the Portugal national team camp?
Ronaldo left the camp after alleging that head coach Jorge Jesus broke a promise regarding his playing time during the Nations League match against Norway, where Ronaldo remained on the bench for the entire game.
What did Dolores Aveiro say about the conflict?
In an interview with TV7 Dias, Dolores Aveiro expressed sadness and shock over the dispute, stating that her son always served as Portugal’s hero and deserved higher appreciation for his contributions.
Did Ronaldo rule out playing for Portugal again?
No, Ronaldo stated that his time in the national team is not over, apologized to the fans for any disappointment, and indicated that proper farewell matches would be scheduled in the future.