From the bench to goodbye: the chronology of the conflict between Cristiano and Jesus

Cristiano Ronaldo announced this Thursday his farewell to the national team Portugalafter more than a month of conflict with the coach Jorge Jesus and uncertainty about his continuity in the national team.

The origin of the disagreement between the Portuguese captain and his new coach dates back to September 27when Portugal visited Oslo to face Norway in the League of Nations.

Cristiano, who had started the previous match against Wales, started the match on the bench. Jesus kept him warming up for half an hour, but finally he didn’t let him in.

After the final whistle, with the Portuguese victory 1-2, Cristiano went directly to the locker room, without accompanying his teammates to thank the fans for their support.

Later, at a press conference, Jesus revealed that he had spoken with the player before the match and had promised him minutes, but that the situation on the pitch “did not justify making a change up front.”

Portugal later moved to Malmö (Sweden) to do recovery sessions before traveling to Denmarkwhere they would face the local team on October 1.

Before one of those training sessions, Cristiano spoke briefly with Jesus and then left the facilities to go to the hotel. According to the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF)the field gym did not have the necessary equipment, which was available at the hotel.

According to the Portuguese press, the September 29the president of the FPF, Pedro Proençaadvanced his trip to Denmark to mediate the conflict between the coach and the striker. That day, Cristiano went to the stadium where the team was located in Copenhagen, but did not train.

The player would later report that he had considered the conflict resolved after a meeting with Jesus and Simão Coutinhosports director of Al Nassr Saudi, the club where he plays and which the coach coached last season.

Later, Cristiano shared a photograph of himself on Instagram before a Portugal match, accompanied only by a heart.

He September 30Jesus appeared at the press conference prior to the match against Denmark.

The coach assured that there was “no case” with Cristiano, although he also stated that both had “spoken and resolved the problem” during a dinner.

He was forceful when defending his authority: “In a club the president rules. In the team, I rule.”

He also referred to the status of players like Cristiano and maintained that they deserve “respect”, although that does not “give the right to be treated differently.”

“Any player, when we are there warming up for 20 or 30 minutes and then he doesn’t go out on the field, there is no one who is happy. And even less Cris. Not even Pele either Maradona they would be. 30 minutes, Pelé or Maradona? That’s the status. The rights are equal and, as a coach, I decided not to let him leave,” he explained.

After that appearance, Cristiano left the Portuguese concentration without prior notice and traveled on his private plane. Copenhagen to Madrid. He did not communicate his decision to Proença until later, when he claimed “not to have the necessary state of mind to continue,” according to a note later published by the FPF.

The forward once again took to Instagram to announce his departure from the camp and promised to give more explanations.

“In due time, I will tell the truth to all Portuguese people about the reasons that led me to leave the national team, to which I have always dedicated myself,” he wrote.

A failed reconciliation

He October 1now without its captain, Portugal defeated Denmark 2-4. After the match, the coach promised to openly address the matter at the end of the next match.

He October 4after Portugal beat Norway 2-1, Jesus downplayed what happened and left the door open for Cristiano to return in the next call-up.

“For me, at the beginning it was never a case. It was something that seemed normal to me as a coach (…) For me, Cris will be, in the next call-up – if he is playing for Al Nassr – a player who can be called up if he wants to return to the national team,” he declared.

Cristiano broke his silence October 6 with a statement of more than 1,500 words sent to the Portuguese newsrooms.

In it he explained that he had thought about leaving the national team after the 2026 World Cup, that the president of the Federation had asked him to continue and that he had given his approval to the choice of Jesus as a replacement for the Spaniard. Roberto Martinez.

He also recounted the meetings he had had with the coach to talk about his future role in the national team and recalled that he had promised him minutes in the match against Norway in Oslo.

“Everyone already knows the rest. I warmed up from the break, I saw how the minutes passed and they didn’t call me. The coach had failed me by not keeping his word,” he wrote.

Christian described the conversation with Jesus of September 29 as “an intense moment, very direct, without any type of filter.” According to their story, both agreed that the coach would repeat what was discussed in that meeting during the press conference the next day.

In addition, an eight-point document, approved by the player, was drafted for Jesus to read before the media, something that did not happen.

In the statement, Cristiano acknowledged that he had made a mistake by leaving the concentration, was willing to accept a possible suspension and left open the possibility of returning.

He October 10the Federation announced the opening of a disciplinary file. On the 19th, a 30-day suspension was imposed, from September 30 to October 30, and a fine of 255 euros, the minimum financial penalty.

He October 26the Portuguese sports press reported that Cristiano was on Jesus’ pre-list for the next Nations League matches. However, this Thursday the former forward of the real Madridof the Manchester United and of Juventus He decided to end his career with the Portuguese team.