Portugal players did not plot against Cristiano Ronaldo, journalist says

Claims that Portugal’s players conspired to force Cristiano Ronaldo out of the national-team camp are “not based on any truth”, according to Portuguese journalist Pedro Sepulveda.

The controversy emerged after Ronaldo left Portugal’s current camp, reportedly in protest at being marginalised and at what he viewed as Jorge Jesus breaking an agreement between them over his involvement in matches. Tensions increased further after comments made by the manager following Portugal’s match against Norway.

Speaking on the Saudi programme Al Montasaf, Sepulveda rejected suggestions that Ronaldo’s team-mates had turned against the captain.

“What is being said about a conspiracy by Portugal’s players against Ronaldo has no basis in reality,” he said.

Sepulveda added that Portugal’s leading players had instead sought to learn from Ronaldo and remain close to him.

“Portugal’s stars were trying to learn from Ronaldo and stay by his side, but what happened was simply a problem created by Jorge Jesus to get rid of the Madeira missile,” he said.

The dispute has raised questions over Ronaldo’s relationship with the new Portugal manager and his position within the national team. Reports in the Portuguese media have suggested that the Portuguese Football Federation is attempting to contact Ronaldo in an effort to resolve the disagreement.

The federation is also said to be considering a final match for Ronaldo, which would provide an official conclusion to his international career.

Ronaldo’s departure from the camp came after the disagreement over his expected participation and the subsequent reaction from Jesus following the Norway game. However, Sepulveda’s comments indicate that the issue was not driven by opposition from the Portugal dressing room.

Instead, the journalist attributed the breakdown to the dispute between Ronaldo and Jesus, denying that the national team’s players had played a role in trying to remove their captain.