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Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken about his disagreement with Portugal coach Roberto Martínez, revealing what happened after the team’s latest match.
The 40-year-old admitted he was wrong not to greet the fans after the match. He apologized to all Portuguese supporters and to everyone who traveled to watch him.
According to Ronaldo, 48 hours after the game, he had a private meeting with the coach and Simão Coutinho. They had a frank and open conversation.
Ronaldo claims they reached an agreement. The coach was supposed to start the next press conference by telling the truth and closing the issue. He was meant to confirm that Ronaldo never asked for minutes, that the plan for the camp was proposed by the coach himself, and that it was a mistake to send Ronaldo to warm up without bringing him on.
Ronaldo says the meeting ended with a hug and a promise from the coach to say all of that publicly. He also says he agreed not to play in Denmark but to feature at the Dragão.
A summary document of their discussion was even written and delivered to the coach with Ronaldo’s approval.
However, Ronaldo says the press conference was completely different from what was agreed. He described the coach’s attitude as aggressive and authoritarian, saying it was not what was shown in private.
He then shared the 8 notes he validated, which stated that the coach himself designed Ronaldo’s national team plan, that Ronaldo accepted it professionally without questioning decisions, that the Norway game was not in the initial plan, and that putting a player of Pelé or Maradona’s stature to warm up without playing was a mistake.
Ronaldo ended by saying: “It was the second time he had broken his word to me.”
Source: Christiano Ronaldo Official Statement
