Piers Morgan has accused Portugal manager Jorge Jesus of breaking a 'secret agreement' with Cristiano Ronaldo, prompting the forward to leave the national team camp. Ronaldo departed after being left as an unused substitute in Portugal's win over Norway, despite an alleged understanding that he would play the final 30 minutes.
Ronaldo leaves camp after snub
Ronaldo left Portugal's international camp after being overlooked by Jesus during the match. It is understood there was an agreement for Ronaldo to come on for the final half hour, but he remained on the bench, leading to emergency talks with the Portuguese FA and his departure on a private jet.
Morgan compared the situation to Erik ten Hag's handling of Ronaldo during his second spell at Manchester United, saying Jesus was 'doing a Ten Hag' by trying to belittle the player.
Morgan's account of the fallout
Speaking on the Sports Uncensored podcast, Morgan said: "What this comes down to, it's nothing to do with money, fame or any of these things. He was given absolute guarantees about how he'd be used.
"It was one of the reasons he decided to continue his international career. The new guy, Jorge Jesus, who knows him from Saudi Arabia, said to him 'With the Nations League this is what I want you to do.'
"They agreed he'd play the first two games, then he'd rest for the next two. In the first game he was told 'You'll get 90 minutes.' This is manager to player. It's Cristiano Ronaldo, it's important to remember the stature of the person you're talking about.
"He gets yanked off [the pitch] after 67 minutes. So he's a bit p***** off and afterwards, the coach apologised to him. Repeated that apology to the president and said he would go out and he would explain this shouldn't have happened.
"He goes out and does the opposite. What he does, is he pulls a Ten Hag where he goes out and tries to belittle and embarrass Ronaldo, put him back in his box and say all the players are as important to me blah, blah, blah.
"Which also p***** off Ronaldo. He then goes to Ronaldo and says 'I know we said you'd rest for the next two games but I want you for 30 minutes against Norway.'
"He went 'right, okay if that's what you want, I'll do it.' It is good of him because they'd agreed something else. He sits there and then gets warmed up for 25 minutes and he never gets on the pitch.
"Again, he's p***** off by the lack of respect, the going back on his word. You're probably going to say Portugal won the game. They won the Nations League last year, who scored in the final? Cristiano Ronaldo. So don't give me the 'they're better without him.'
"Here's my point, for him, it's a question of respect, being promised one thing then the opposite happened. Being warmed up and not used which he felt was very disrepsectful. Eventually he went 'f*** you' and got on a plane and left.
"His argument is, this coach kept going out in press conference and saying the opposite."
Jordan challenges Morgan
Fellow host Simon Jordan interjected and asked: "Do you know this to be true?"
Morgan ignored the question and replied: "You may not like that his coach is offering him deals. Saying play this, play that, but that happens in top-level football with the older players.
"He was made guarantees, he then offered to help and play against Norway when he was told he was going to rest that game. Ultimately, this coach has repeatedly gone out in press conferences and said, 'I'm in charge. I'm the big dog, this guy is just another player.'
"I'll refer you back to Ancelotti and Modric, where he said you don't do that to a top player."
Sky reporter Kaveh Solhekol would outline the difference between playing in Saudi Arabia where Ronaldo is the main man, compared to the national team, before Jordan took a swipe at his fellow host.
"You haven't hear what he's said to Cristiano," Jordan replied to Morgan. " What you're doing is you're being subjective because of your admiration for Ronaldo. You know you do it, I know you do it, be objective."
