Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has said he will not apologise to anyone following a heated exchange with a reporter over his ongoing feud with Cristiano Ronaldo. The 41-year-old forward was called up for the current international break before leaving the squad and flying away on a private jet.
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner who previously played for Manchester United and Real Madrid, released a statement on social media saying he would tell the truth about his departure after a conversation with the Portuguese Football Federation.
Unused substitute for first time in 18 years
The Al-Nassr star was an unused substitute for the first time in 18 years following Portugal's clash with Norway, prompting an emergency meeting before he left the camp.
In a press conference, Jesus was asked whether he had apologised to Ronaldo. The Portugal boss was taken aback by the question and asked the reporter what he had to apologise for, before saying: "I don't apologise to anyone!"
Olive branch offered to Ronaldo
Jesus did not go into further detail about the incident, but appeared to offer an olive branch when asked about Ronaldo's future with the national side.
He said: "Cristiano Ronaldo will be called up for the next international break, if he wants to return. It's his decision. I am ready to call him if he will play with Al-Nassr."
"In my opinion, you can't hold a one-year friendship against someone over a situation that is difficult to understand. Just because it was him, and perhaps rightly so, because he is a symbol, this whole issue of warming up and not warming up, coming on and not coming on, has been created. How many players warmed up today and didn't come on? How many? Is there going to be a problem with any of them? No."
Planned substitution changed
Jesus had reportedly planned to bring Ronaldo on for the final half hour of Portugal's clash with Norway last Sunday, with AC Milan forward Goncalo Ramos starting up front. However, the former Benfica boss changed his mind and brought on Francisco Trincao, leaving Ronaldo on the bench.
The Al-Nassr star reportedly refused to train and then called his private jet to Copenhagen to take him away on the eve of the Denmark game.
Writing on social media, Ronaldo said: "After the press conference of the national team coach, and following a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team camp. In due time, I will tell the truth to all Portuguese people about the reasons that motivated my departure from the national team, to which I have always devoted myself. Now is the time to wish Portugal and all my team-mates good luck, without exception."
