Cristiano Ronaldo considers retiring from Portugal: CR7 feels betrayed

Cristiano Ronaldo arrived in Madrid last night with his family aboard his private jet, which had collected him in Copenhagen following his dramatic falling-out with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus. At the heart of the dispute was the coach’s decision to have Ronaldo warm up for approximately 30 minutes during the recent Nations League match in Norway without bringing him on. According to the report, CR7 considered this an affront. His frustration intensified after Jesus’s remarks at yesterday’s press conference, where the coach defended his complete independence in selecting the team. Barring an unexpected development, Ronaldo is expected to return to Saudi Arabia in the coming hours to rejoin Al-Nassr. Retirement or suspension? Several media outlets are examining the consequences of Ronaldo’s actions. According to the report, he refused to train and left Portugal’s camp immediately after Jorge Jesus addressed the press. Portuguese media, led by O Jogo, suggest that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s protest could mark the end of his international career. They speculate that an announcement confirming his retirement from the national team could follow soon. Other outlets raise the possibility of disciplinary action, even if Ronaldo changes his mind. According to the regulations cited in the supplied article, a player who has been properly called up and then leaves or fails to attend a national-team training session, match or other activity without justification may face a suspension of between one and six months. Professional players may also receive a fine. The final reconciliation attempt Portugal’s football leadership reportedly hopes to avoid that outcome. According to Spanish newspaper Marca’s account, Pedro Proença and Jorge Jesus went to Copenhagen Airport late yesterday evening to meet Ronaldo in a final attempt to reconcile. The federation president had previously travelled to the team’s camp in Denmark specifically to speak with Ronaldo and Jesus before the situation escalated. The attempt reportedly failed, prompting debate in Portugal over the conduct of one of the country’s greatest footballers, alongside Eusébio. The supplied article credits Ronaldo with 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal, as well as contributions to one European Championship title and two Nations League trophies. “Cristiano feels betrayed” Journalist and Ronaldo’s friend Edu Aguirre offered his account of the player’s anger on the Spanish football programme El Chiringuito TV. According to Aguirre, the dispute centres on a promise Jorge Jesus made during a private meeting on Tuesday evening attended by Ronaldo and the federation president. “Jorge Jesus apologised to Cristiano for making him warm up for 30 minutes and then not bringing him on. But he didn’t just apologise privately. He also told him he would apologise publicly and admit that he had made a mistake,” Aguirre said. The journalist claimed that the coach’s subsequent remarks at the press conference contradicted that promise. “That is why Cristiano explodes: because he feels betrayed. Your coach approaches you privately and says: ‘I didn’t handle the situation well. I’m sorry. At the press conference, I’ll explain it and apologise. Don’t worry; everything will be resolved.’ “Then, 12 hours later, you go into the press conference and make things worse for Cristiano by asserting your authority and making it clear that you are in charge and Cristiano is just another player. That is why I call it betrayal,” Aguirre concluded.