Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville criticised Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday after the Portuguese forward walked out of the national‑team squad ahead of a UEFA Nations League match with Denmark. Ronaldo’s departure came after a disagreement with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus, who had held a media briefing before the game.
In a lengthy statement released after leaving the squad, Ronaldo said he was “disappointed” that Jesus did not select him for a recent Nations League fixture against Norway and accused the coach of reneging on promises made to him. The star forward blamed the manager for the decision that led to his withdrawal.
Ronaldo subsequently apologised to his teammates and to the Portuguese public, insisting he was not ending his international career and that he would accept any disciplinary measures imposed by the Portuguese Football Federation. The federation has reportedly suspended him from the national team, although the length of the suspension and any further penalties have not been disclosed.
“I actually love him to bits. I can’t sit here and say I approve of that statement and think it was a good thing for him to do; it makes him more difficult to like. If you love him, it makes him more difficult to like; if you don’t like him, it makes you dislike him even more,” Neville said during his appearance on The Overlap.
Ronaldo remains Portugal’s all‑time leading scorer and a key figure in the squad’s Nations League campaign, while coach Jorge Jesus, appointed earlier this year, seeks to balance the veteran’s influence with team discipline.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
