Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has said he remains committed to the national team and will be available for selection after serving any punishment imposed for leaving the squad during the September international break.
The 41-year-old forward left Portugal’s camp after being an unused substitute in the team’s 2-1 Nations League victory over Norway on September 27.
Ronaldo subsequently missed Portugal’s next two matches, wins over Denmark and Norway, as they maintained a perfect record at the top of Nations League Group A4 with four victories.
Portugal head coach, Jorge Jesus had said after Sunday’s 2-1 win over Norway that Ronaldo could return to the national team if he wanted to.
In a lengthy statement posted on Instagram on Tuesday, Ronaldo said Jesus had failed “to keep his word” after allegedly telling him he would play for 30 minutes against Norway.
He also apologised to his team-mates and the Portuguese public over his decision to leave the camp.
Ronaldo said he believed the Portuguese Football Federation should punish him for his actions, insisting his status as captain should not exempt him from the rules.
“The consequence of this act of mine must be assessed and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation,” Ronaldo said.
“I believe the punishment should have no mitigating factors. I am not just any player. I am a team captain and that is an aggravating factor.
“I have already apologized but I know that actions must have consequences. Anyone in football as I am knows that regardless of each person’s status, the rules are the same for everyone.
“In this regard, I have heard a lot of talk about farewell matches, that I must have a dignified farewell, and that the Federation wants to give me that opportunity.
“I can promise all my fans, naturally and especially all the Portuguese people, that we will have one or more farewell matches; there will be time for that.”
Ronaldo, who has scored a record 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal, stressed that his immediate priority remained competing for his country rather than planning his international farewell.
“But when I think about the national team, what I really think about is competing. That is what I thought about on the day they gave me the news of my Father’s death.
“I was at our National Team camp and decided to stay there until the end of the next day’s match. I therefore did for my country what I would never do for any club.
“So, if I am physically well, playing for my club, hopefully with goals, after serving whatever suspension is imposed on me, I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our National Team.
“This is, believe me, the purest of truths.”
Portugal’s next Nations League matches are scheduled for November, when they will face Denmark and Wales.
Ronaldo also revealed that he, Jesus and Al Nassr sporting director Simao Coutinho had discussed his absence from the Norway game and agreed that the coach would address the matter at his subsequent press conference.
However, the Al Nassr forward said Jesus’ comments during the press conference did not reflect their private discussion.
“The conference was what is known: the attitude had nothing to do with our meeting.
“I heard expressions and an aggressiveness I believe I did not deserve, a ‘high and mighty’ attitude that he never showed me, not even remotely, in private the day before.”
Ronaldo said he later shared an eight-point document prepared before the press conference, arguing that the issues raised did not warrant an apology from the Portugal coach.
“None of these notes, therefore, required the head coach to even apologize to me.
“It was the second time he was failing to keep his word to me.”
