Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed he will remain available for Portugal national team selection after his abrupt exit from the Nations League camp, while claiming manager Jorge Jesus broke his word to him twice.
The 41-year-old forward stormed out of the squad following a reported rift with new boss Jesus after he did not play against Norway in Oslo. In a 1,900-word statement on Tuesday evening, Ronaldo apologised to his team-mates and the Portuguese public and said he would accept any punishment from the Portuguese FA.
Statement and apology
"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.
"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. I learned in life, often hungry and with nothing to eat, that no one gives anything to anyone."
"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."
Broken promises claim
Ronaldo claimed that he and Jesus had agreed he would sit out both matches against Norway and Denmark to manage the veteran's fitness, but he was told on the morning of the Norway encounter that he would play half an hour.
"Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from halftime onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn't called on," the statement continued. "The manager had broken his word to me. It was the second time he had broken his word to me. I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises."
Ronaldo has won 234 appearances for his country, scoring 146 goals in that time.
