‘Real reason Cristiano Ronaldo retired’ – Portuguese football expert

Portuguese football expert Pedro Sepúlveda has claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo decided to retire from international football after head coach Jorge Jesus refused to issue the public apology the forward had demanded.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Sepúlveda revealed that Jesus and Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença spent the days leading up to Ronaldo’s announcement trying to convince him to reconsider his decision.

Ronaldo confirmed his retirement in a video last Thursday, bringing an end to his international career after 234 appearances and a men’s record of 146 goals for Portugal.

The disagreement between the forward and his coach reportedly began during the September-October international window and continued until Ronaldo made his decision.

Explaining the situation, Sepúlveda said: “To be frank, Ronaldo wanted a public apology from Jorge Jesus, while Jesus confirmed that he would never apologize to any player.”

He further stated: “Ronaldo wants something, and Jesus has made it clear he will not give it to him.”

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Sepúlveda concluded that the disagreement had effectively ended Ronaldo’s time under Jesus in charge of the Portuguese national team, saying: “Therefore, Cristiano’s time under Jesus’s management with the Portuguese national team is definitively over.”