Dolores Aveiro, Cristiano Ronaldo's mother, came to the forward's defense after he left the Portugal national team camp during the latest FIFA international window. "He has always been Portugal's hero. They are not valuing him as they should," she told the Portuguese magazine TV 7 Dias.
According to La Tercera, the forward's mother acknowledged that the episode hit her hard. "It was a shock, my son could have left through the front door, but instead he left through the back door," she said. She also said she cried: "God will take care of it... I cried a little. It's also good to let it go."
The conflict began with the match against Norway in the Nations League, UEFA's national team tournament (the European football federation). The Al Nassr player from Saudi Arabia did not take part in that match, and the situation upset him.
La Tercera reported that there was talk of a possible agreement between the footballer and the coach for him to play at least 30 minutes. CNN Chile added that Cristiano publicly accused the coach of failing to honor commitments previously agreed upon.
Jorge Jesus, Portugal's head coach, gave his account: "I told the player he was not going to play. 'I'll put you on the bench. If I need you for 30 minutes, you'll play; if not, you won't.'" And he took a firmer tone: "No player will make me change my mind. Neither him nor anyone in football. Nor any president."
Cristiano responded with a statement on social media. He explained that, after the national team coach's press conference and a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, he decided to leave the camp. "In due course, I will tell all Portuguese people the truth about the reasons that prompted my departure," he wrote.
Before his mother spoke, his sister, Elma Aveiro, had spoken out. She shared an Instagram post arguing that Cristiano "deserved more respect" and criticizing the Portuguese press and fans, with phrases such as "we are envious, disdainful, ignorant." Elma accompanied it with a brief "That says it all."
The case remains open. The Portuguese Football Federation suspended the forward and opened urgent disciplinary proceedings over his departure from the camp, while Cristiano has yet to reveal the reasons he promised to explain.
