Cristiano Ronaldo’s past response to Carvalho walkout resurfaces amid Portugal row

Cristiano Ronaldo’s handling of a similar Portugal controversy in 2011 has come back into focus as the current dispute involving the national team captain continues to dominate attention.

Portugal secured a perfect record during the latest international break and confirmed their place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Nations League. However, the focus remains on the unresolved situation involving Ronaldo, with supporters waiting for the captain to give his account of what happened.

Portuguese newspaper A Bola has highlighted an incident from 2011, when defender Ricardo Carvalho left Portugal’s training camp after being left out of the starting line-up. Ronaldo, then 26, became involved in the events surrounding the decision.

Paulo Bento, Portugal’s manager at the time, chose Pepe ahead of Carvalho, despite Carvalho being Ronaldo’s team-mate at Real Madrid. Pepe went on to play despite not having taken part in the previous training session because of fitness problems.

Carvalho explained what had happened several days later, saying: “When I came back from training, I felt disrespected. I felt unwanted; they made me feel that way.”

He added: “I got to my room and did not even change my clothes. It was not planned at all. I was simply angry and did not speak to anyone. It was a huge mistake on my part; it had not even crossed my mind. I was extremely confused at that moment.”

Ronaldo attempted to calm the situation at the time, insisting that no player could expect to be guaranteed a place in the Portugal team.

“No-one is guaranteed a place in the national team,” he said. “The player who is in the best form and is chosen by the manager will play.”

Several months later, Ronaldo returned to the incident and acknowledged that Carvalho had made a mistake, while also stressing that errors were part of football.

“Carvalho made a mistake, but we all make mistakes,” Ronaldo said.

The episode has gained renewed significance because of the latest dispute surrounding Ronaldo and Portugal. Jorge Jesus, several of Ronaldo’s team-mates and Pedro Proenca attempted to contact the forward after the match against Norway at Estadio do Dragao.

Ronaldo did not respond publicly at that stage, instead limiting himself to saying that he would tell his side of the story at the appropriate time. The Portugal captain’s account of the current situation is therefore still awaited, despite the team’s progress in the UEFA Nations League and their successful international-break results.