Ronaldo’s mother says Portugal has failed to value the Al-Nassr captain

Dolores Aveiro, the mother of Cristiano Ronaldo, says her son has not received the recognition he deserves from the Portuguese public after his sudden departure from the national team camp in Copenhagen.

Ronaldo, captain of Saudi club Al-Nassr, is understood to be involved in a dispute with Portugal manager Jorge Jesus. Aveiro discussed the situation in an interview with TV 7 Dias, with her comments published by GE.

She said she had cried over the episode and had urged her son to remain calm before he decided to leave the squad on the eve of Portugal’s match against Denmark.

Aveiro recalled a conversation with Ronaldo, saying: “He told me: ‘Mum, don’t worry. I’ll tell the truth when we are all together.’ I replied: ‘OK, my son, sort things out.’”

She added: “I told him to stay calm, but in any case, his mind led him to do it. We will see. I gave him all my support, but it was of no use.”

Aveiro also criticised what she described as the Portuguese people’s ingratitude towards her son, whom she called a “hero of Portugal”.

“But it’s all right,” she said. “He has given so much to Portugal, and for that reason he will always be present there. He has always been Portugal’s hero.

“They do not give him the recognition he should receive. They do not appreciate Cristiano. This is the Portuguese people we have.”

The manner of Ronaldo’s departure also upset his mother. She compared it with the expression used in Brazil for someone leaving “through the back door”, rather than making a formal or celebrated exit.

“I feel sad, and that is normal,” Aveiro said. “It was a shock. My son could have left through the main door, but he left through the small door. But it’s all right; God will take care of things.”

Earlier in the interview, Aveiro indicated that she believed the situation could still develop in Ronaldo’s favour, despite her disappointment at the way he left the Portugal camp.

Her remarks come after the departure that has brought her son’s relationship with Jorge Jesus into focus, while she continues to defend Ronaldo’s importance to Portugal and the contribution she believes he has made to the country.