Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has said he had not yet read Cristiano Ronaldo’s lengthy statement about their recent dispute because he was watching the country’s Under-21 side.
Jesus made the comment on Tuesday night, several hours after Ronaldo, 41, released a detailed account of the events surrounding his departure from Portugal’s national-team camp the previous week.
“I didn’t read Cristiano’s statement, I was watching Portugal U21 game,” Jesus told reporters, according to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
“I will now have time to read it.”
In his statement, Ronaldo accused Jesus of breaking his word on two separate occasions.
The Al Nassr forward claimed Jesus had promised to give him around 30 minutes against Norway in the UEFA Nations League but ultimately kept him on the bench despite completing an extended warm-up.
Ronaldo also accused the coach of failing to make agreed clarifications publicly during a subsequent press conference.
According to the Portugal captain, he and Jesus had previously discussed how his playing time would be managed during the international window.
Ronaldo said a later private meeting involving federation officials resulted in several points that Jesus was expected to address publicly. However, he claimed the coach’s subsequent comments did not reflect what had been agreed.
Ronaldo apologised to his teammates and supporters for the way he left the camp, acknowledged that disciplinary action could follow and did not rule out a return to the national team.
“I owe an apology to my national team teammates for having left the camp,” wrote Ronaldo.
“Despite the absolute breakdown of trust in the head coach’s word… I shouldn’t have done it. The responsibility is mine alone.”
Ronaldo also apologised to Portugal supporters but maintained that his decision was influenced by what he described as the coach’s “broken word”.
“I apologise to the Portuguese people once again, but a broken word has, for me, a defining impact,” said Ronaldo.
“I felt that, from that moment on, my presence would only harm the group, and I did what I always said I would do if I didn’t feel useful: I picked up my bags and left.”
Jesus, who took charge of Portugal after the 2026 World Cup, previously worked with Ronaldo during their time together at Al Nassr.