Cristiano Ronaldo Announces He Will Not Retire from International Football

Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that he is not retiring from international football, but believes he deserves punishment for walking out on Portugal's Nations League camp last week.

The 41-year-old captain left his team after being an unused substitute against Norway and then finding out he would not start against Denmark, sparking controversy over his decision to leave the camp. Ronaldo has been a key player for Portugal, scoring 146 goals in 234 appearances - both world records - which have helped them win Euro 2016 and the Nations League twice.

In a lengthy statement released by Ronaldo, he acknowledged that he should be held accountable for his actions and called on the Portuguese Football Federation to assess the consequences of his decision. He stated that he believes the punishment for walking out on the team should not be reduced, despite having already apologized for his actions.

Ronaldo's statement comes after head coach Jorge Jesus claimed there was no rift with the captain, following reports that Ronaldo had refused to train. However, Ronaldo has accused Jesus of an "absolute breach of trust for breaking a promise to play him against Norway and then presenting a different version of events to the media.

The situation has left many questioning Ronaldo's decision to leave the team, but he remains adamant that he is not retiring from international football and is willing to face any consequences for his actions.

The Portuguese Football Federation has yet to respond to Ronaldo's statement, but it is clear that he remains committed to playing for his country despite the recent controversy surrounding his decision to leave the team.

Ronaldo's willingness to continue playing international football comes with a condition: he must be physically fit and contributing to his team. If these criteria are met, he is confident that he can continue to compete at the highest level.

In a conciliatory tone, Ronaldo expressed his commitment to the national team, stating that he will be available to play after his suspension period ends. This indicates that he is willing to put the recent dispute behind him and focus on the future of the team.

Ronaldo's version of events suggests that there was a breakdown in communication between him and coach Jesus. According to Ronaldo, an agreement had been reached for him to miss certain matches due to fitness concerns, but this plan was not followed by the coach.

The details of the disagreement have now been documented in an eight-point document, which outlines Ronaldo's position on the matter. This includes his assertion that he never demanded playing time and that Jesus' decision to ask him to warm up without bringing him into the game was a mistake.

The private meeting between Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Santos has been a subject of controversy in recent days, with Ronaldo claiming that their discussion did not involve an apology from the coach as previously reported.

Ronaldo clarified that the agreed-upon notes after their meeting did not require Santos to apologize to him, contradicting earlier reports. He stated that it was the public remarks made by Santos that did not align with their private conversation.

The Portugal star expressed his disappointment with the way Santos handled the situation in public, describing the coach's tone as high and mighty and claiming he had never seen such behavior from him before. This attitude, Ronaldo said, was a departure from what they discussed privately the day before.

Ronaldo has now left the training camp without waiting for further developments, citing broken promises by Santos as the reason for his decision. This marks the second time, according to Ronaldo, that Santos had failed to uphold their agreement with him.

Ronaldo's relationship with Santos has been a subject of debate among fans and media in Portugal, with some showing support for the coach while others stand by the legendary player who has been a cornerstone of the national team for years.

Ronaldo has taken responsibility for his actions in leaving the Portuguese national team camp, stating that he should not have departed despite the absolute breakdown of trust" in Jesus' word.

He expressed regret to his teammates and the nation's supporters, acknowledging that a broken promise can have significant consequences. The apology reflects Ronaldo's commitment to making amends and rebuilding trust with those affected by his decision.

Ronaldo's focus remains on achieving his record-breaking 1,000th career goal, and he has returned to training in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr.