RONALDO TELLS HIS SIDE OF THE STORY: “MY PLACE IS WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM”

• 

• 

Cristiano Ronaldo has issued a detailed statement explaining the circumstances surrounding his departure from Portugal’s camp. The captain accepted responsibility for leaving, apologized to his teammates and Portuguese supporters, revealed the notes he says were agreed with the head coach, and made one thing clear: after serving any punishment imposed on him, he intends to remain available to represent Portugal. Below is the Word for Word information from Cristiano Ronaldo Facebook Page:

Page 1

On the day before camp began, the Head Coach came to my home in Lisbon, at his request, for another conversation with me. The conversation was calm, and all the principles agreed in August were maintained.

I played the match at Alvalade and, although I was substituted, I made no issue. I put the armband on Bruno Fernandes myself, far from imagining that I might be taking my last steps as a player and captain of the national team. What mattered to me that day was our victory. Winning is always good; in Portugal and for my country, even better.

At lunchtime on the day of the match in Norway, an assistant to the Head Coach came to the table where the group was having lunch and told me that the Head Coach wanted to speak to me.

To my absolute surprise, the Head Coach asked me whether I was OK to play 30 minutes. I was totally focused on my physical recovery, integrated with my teammates as always, and thinking I would not play that day. No problem at all.

This request was outside my physical recovery and training plan, because I was only going to play on the 4th at the Dragão, but I obviously said yes. He replied that I should be ready, because I would play 30 minutes.

Page 2

The rest everyone knows. I warmed up from halftime, watched the minutes go by, and was never called on.

The Head Coach had failed to keep his word.

At the end of the match, I just wanted everything to be over with a victory and to be left alone. I did not go to greet the fans. That is a failing that is solely my responsibility and should not have happened.

I apologize to the Portuguese people who supported us there, I apologize to the fans, and I apologize to those who, though not Portuguese, may have traveled there to see me and whom I may have disappointed.

Forty-eight hours later, we had a conversation: myself, the Head Coach, and Simão Coutinho, since he had been present for our conversations in August.

It was a deep moment, very frank, without any kind of filter. We agreed that there was only one way to close this “issue”: that the Head Coach repeat what he had just told me in private, in Simão Coutinho’s presence, but in the Press Room.

What was agreed was simple: the Head Coach would begin the press conference with this topic, seeking to close the matter by telling the truth.

Page 3

He would say that I never asked to play any minutes, that it was the Head Coach and no one else who proposed the plan for this camp to me, and that it was a mistake to have me warm up and then not bring me on, and that if it happened again he would not do it.

We ended that meeting with the Head Coach asking me for a hug, promising me that he would say in the press conference what he had just said to me, and that the matter would be put behind us. I would not play in Denmark, and I would play the match at the Dragão. All of this in the presence of Simão Coutinho, always.

At the Head Coach’s request, a meeting then took place between him, Simão Coutinho, and Tiago Craveiro by video conference, in which what we had discussed was summarized.

A short document was produced, which I myself validated and which, with my knowledge, was delivered to the Head Coach, as he had requested.

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.

Page 4

The notes I validated were as follows:

“I think it is important, not least because it is the truth, to clarify a few things before talking about Denmark:

1. I myself, with no one else, proposed a plan to Cristiano for this season with the National Team. It was a long and very good conversation.

2. I know how much he lives for and loves the National Team, and the weight he has in the World, and even more, the weight and positive influence he has had in the National Team for 24 consecutive years.

3. The plan I proposed to Cristiano was accepted.

4. He never questioned my choices. He was exemplary, loyal and professional.

5. The match in Norway was not part of the plan I drew up for him. However, I felt he had managed to recover physically from the first game, and I warned him that I might have to use him. Cristiano agreed.

Page 5

6. I made a mistake in having someone of the stature of Pelé or Maradona warm up and then not putting him in the game. If it were today, I would not do it.

7. To close the matter: I want Cristiano in the National Team. In fact, I don't want him a little, I want him a lot. Fortunately, he also believes in me. He believed in me at Al Nassr and here too.

8. On not having greeted the fans. We have already talked about that. Someone who has played more than 230 matches for the National Team does not receive lessons from me about love for Portugal. It was a moment of frustration that erases nothing. He is the player who signs the most autographs, takes the most selfies, shows the most affection to the fans. Let's not invent problems where they don't exist. When we are not happy, we react. That was all.”

Page 6

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.

I decided to leave the camp without waiting for any further broken promise. For me, the truth is still the most important thing in the relationship between people. No matter how much it may hurt, tell me the truth.

In fact, in a conversation I had with the President of the FPF and with the Head Coach on the morning of the day of that press conference, which they can surely confirm, I reaffirmed that if they did not want me there, they should tell me. All they had to do was be frank with me. I would accept it, and I promised that we would prepare something beautiful, as I dream it might happen, and no one would be angry.

I remember it as if it were today. They answered in unison that no. That my place was with the National Team.

Never, at any moment, did I interfere in any technical or tactical decision of any coach or national team manager in almost 25 years of playing football. I just take it better or worse, depending on what they propose.

I respect the decision, and when they break their word to me, I feel that my place is not there.

Page 7

I also owe an apology to my National Team teammates for having left the camp. Despite the absolute breach of trust in the Head Coach's word, as anyone who witnessed these conversations can attest, I should not have done it. The responsibility is entirely mine.

I apologize to the Portuguese people once again, but the breaking of one's word has, for me, a defining impact. I felt that, from that point on, my staying would only harm the group, and I did what I have always said I would do if I did not feel useful: I picked up my bags and left.

The consequence of this act of mine must be assessed and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation. 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.

Page 8

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 learned in life, going hungry and with nothing to eat, that nobody gives anything to anybody.

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.

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.

Cristiano Ronaldo