Cristiano Ronaldo has ruled out retiring from Portugal, insisting he remains committed to representing his country despite the dispute that led to his departure from the national team’s training camp.
The 41-year-old captain says he will continue to make himself available while he remains physically fit and performs for Al Nassr. Ronaldo also said he would accept any disciplinary punishment arising from the incident before returning to compete for Portugal.
“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,” Ronaldo said.
His comments end speculation that his decision to leave the squad could bring an unexpected conclusion to his international career. Ronaldo apologised to his team-mates and the Portuguese people, while acknowledging that disciplinary action remained possible.
The dispute began after Ronaldo was an unused substitute in Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League victory away to Norway on 27 September.
Ronaldo said he had previously agreed with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus that he would miss both the Norway and Denmark matches as part of a plan to manage his fitness. However, he claimed that the arrangement changed on the day of the Norway fixture, when Jesus told him he would play for 30 minutes.
“Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from halftime onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn’t called on,” Ronaldo said.
“The manager had broken his word to me.”
The forward said it was the second occasion on which he believed Jesus had failed to keep an agreement.
“It was the second time he had broken his word to me,” Ronaldo said. “I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises.”
Jesus has denied reaching an agreement with Ronaldo about the two matches, although he has not ruled out the veteran forward returning to the national team.
Ronaldo also rejected claims that he had tried to influence the manager’s tactical or technical decisions.
“Never, at any moment, have I interfered in any technical or tactical decision of any coach or national team manager in almost 25 years of career,” Ronaldo said.
“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.”
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner said his priority was not arranging a farewell appearance but continuing to compete with Portugal.
“I have heard a great deal of talk about farewell matches, that I must have a dignified farewell and that the Federation wants to give me that opportunity,” Ronaldo said.
“I learned in life, often hungry and with nothing to eat, that no one gives anything to anyone.”
He added: “I can promise all my fans, naturally and especially all Portuguese people, that we will have one or more farewell matches; there will be time for that. But when I think of the national team, what I really think of is competing.”
Ronaldo, Portugal’s record goalscorer with 146 goals in 234 appearances, also recalled staying with the squad after learning of his father’s death.
“That is what I thought on the day I was given the news of my father’s death. I was at a camp with our national team and I decided to stay there until the end of the match the following day. I did for the country what I would never do for any club.”
