Georgina Rodriguez speaks up about how Portugal coach Jorge Jesus is treating Cristiano Ronaldo.
Georgina Rodriguez spoke out about Portugal’s head coach Jorge Jesus and how he treated Cristiano Ronaldo in a now-deleted Instagram post.
Ronaldo left Portugal’s camp on Wednesday (September 30), just days after Jesus decided not to play him against Norway, even though Ronaldo warmed up for about 30 minutes. After the game, there was a quick meeting with Ronaldo, Jesus, and Pedro Proenca, the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, but it seems there are still some strong feelings.
A report from El Chiringuito’s Edu Aguirre, a close friend of Ronaldo, says the five-time Ballon d’Or winner feels “betrayed” by what happened, and Jesus has spoken openly about it.
Rodriguez, Ronaldo’s wife, reportedly posted on her Instagram story Saturday evening to criticize Jesus, who promised to explain his side after Portugal’s game against Norway on Sunday.
Portuguese newspaper A Bola said her post was based on a false quote wrongly linked to former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The quote said: “If Jorge Jesus knew in his heart he didn’t plan to use him, why call him up in the first place? That’s not authority, that’s insecurity.”
Rodriguez also reportedly wrote, “I don’t know how this man can bear the name of Christ.” She took the post down soon after.
After returning home, Ronaldo posted on social media saying he will explain the real reason for leaving “in time.” He wrote: “After the national team press conference and a talk with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I decided to leave the national team training camp.”
He added: “I will tell all Portuguese the truth about why I left when the time is right.”
Before Portugal’s Nations League game against Denmark on Thursday, Jesus played down rumors of a fight with Ronaldo. He said, “There was no incident at all. Any player—speaking from experience—when you warm up for 20 or 30 minutes and don’t get on the field, no one feels happy.”
Jesus also said he told Ronaldo before the match that he wouldn’t start but might come on later. “After that, as coach, I chose not to bring him on,” he said. “It’s nothing to make a big deal out of.”