Jorge Jesus responds to Cristiano Ronaldo statement after Portugal dispute

Jorge Jesus said he had not yet read Cristiano Ronaldo’s statement after the Portugal captain publicly explained his dispute with the national team coach.

Ronaldo broke his silence on Tuesday by issuing an official statement outlining the reasons for the disagreement between himself and Jesus. He criticised the coach and said Jesus had failed to keep a promise on two occasions, prompting Ronaldo to leave Portugal’s training camp.

According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Jesus was in Leiria on Tuesday to watch Portugal Under-21s beat Czech Republic 2-0.

When Jesus returned to his home in Aroeira, a CMTV television crew approached him and asked about Ronaldo’s statement. Jesus said he knew the statement had been published but had not had the opportunity to read it.

“I was in Leiria watching the Under-21 national team play,” he said. “I will read the statement now, and I have nothing to say.”

A Bola reported that further statements on the dispute are expected to be issued soon, although it did not identify who would make them.