Cristiano Ronaldo has declared himself available for Portugal after breaking his silence on his departure from the national team camp and accusing head coach Jorge Jesus of breaking promises.
The 41-year-old forward apologised to his team-mates and the Portuguese public, while saying he would accept any punishment imposed by the Portuguese Football Federation.
Ronaldo said he would return to international duty if he remained fit and continued scoring for Al Nassr, after serving any suspension that may be handed to him.
“If I am physically well, playing for my club, with goals I hope, after serving the suspension that may be applied to me, I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team,” he said.
He also rejected suggestions that his international career was approaching its end, saying he expected to have one or more farewell matches but that his priority remained competing for Portugal.
“When I think of the national team, what I really think of is competing,” Ronaldo said. “But when I think of the national team, what I really think of is competing.”
Ronaldo left the squad after being an unused substitute during Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League victory away to Norway on September 27. He said an agreement had been reached for him to miss the Norway and Denmark matches as part of a plan to manage his fitness.
According to Ronaldo, Jesus then told him on the day of the Norway match that he would play for 30 minutes. The forward said he warmed up from half-time but was not brought on.
“The manager had broken his word to me,” Ronaldo said, claiming it was the second time Jesus had done so. He added that the coach’s public comments did not match their private conversation and that he chose to leave the camp rather than wait for further “broken promises”.
Jesus denied after the win over Norway that he had reached an agreement with Ronaldo, while leaving open the possibility of the player returning to the national team.
Ronaldo, who has made 234 appearances for Portugal and scored 146 goals, said he had never interfered with a coach’s technical or tactical decisions during his career.
“I accept, for better or worse, what they propose that I do. I respect the decision, and when they break their word to me, I feel that my place is not there,” he said.
