Cristiano Ronaldo has launched a harsh personal attack on talkSPORT presenter Simon Jordan, telling him to stop using Botox in a text message revealed by Piers Morgan. The message was sent after Ronaldo walked out on Portugal's international duty during the recent break.
The 41-year-old stormed out of the squad under new manager Jorge Jesus after being left on the bench against Norway. Ronaldo was an unused substitute in Oslo and walked out on the eve of the win over Denmark. In a subsequent statement, it was claimed that Jesus told him he would play him for 30 minutes against Norway before going back on his word.
Ronaldo's message to Jordan
Speaking on the Football Uncensored segment of Morgan's show, the 61-year-old revealed that he exchanged messages with the former Manchester United and Real Madrid attacker, including a clip from talkSPORT with Jim White and Jordan.
Morgan said: "I want to give you a cheerful note to take back to your workstation. I sent Cristiano the clip of me with Simon Jordan this morning and he texted back, 'that blonde guy, tell him to stop with the botox, he looks like an apple'.
"That's my breaking news. Breaking news from Cristiano Ronaldo, Simon Jordan you are an apple. You suspiciously smooth-faced apple."
Morgan and Jordan clash on air
The message came after Morgan's appearance earlier in the day on talkSPORT alongside Jordan and White. The pair became locked in a back-and-forth verbal match on the topic of Ronaldo's actions and behaviour since the international break flashpoint.
Jordan said: "I know you work on the premise that everything is a bleeding filibuster, other people can have an opinion. In your objective, rounded mind, is there not a common denominator of fallouts might be some of Ronaldo's behaviour?
"Is there a possibility in your balanced, shell-like, kissing Ronaldo's backside mentality..." Morgan interrupted Jordan's question with a series of no answers.
Jordan continued: "Well, you're a bloody fool then aren't you? In your wide experiences of managing players and understanding dynamics behind the scenes, you can't see beyond the end of your nose that there might be a common denominator when problems occur that might be Ronaldo's behaviour. No? OK."
Ronaldo apologises for walking out
In light of Lionel Messi's emotional farewell from international football with Argentina, doubts have been cast over Ronaldo's future on the world's stage at the age of 41. Ronaldo accused Jesus of broken promises in his lengthy statement to his 679 million Instagram followers.
Jesus, who worked with the forward at Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, says he will respond to the statement once he has had time to read it. Jesus was at an under-21s game when the statement was released and reporters were waiting for him upon his return home. But Ronaldo has apologised for his actions and for stepping away from duty with the national team.
He said: "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. 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.
"I felt that, from that point on, my remaining would only harm the working group, and I did what I have always said I would do if I did not feel useful: I packed my bags and left."
