Ronaldo: 'Broken His Word' on Portugal Exit, Jesus Feud, Retirement

Cristiano Ronaldo released a nearly 2,000-word statement detailing his Portugal exit, according to www.si.com — and he did not hold back.

The statement began: "This is the truth on what has happened with Jorge Jesus."

Ronaldo abruptly left Portugal's camp last week with two UEFA Nations League games still to play in the international window, per www.si.com. Reports at the time instantly pointed to a rift between the all-time great and manager Jorge Jesus.

Less than a week later, on the same day Lionel Messi bid farewell to Argentina, Ronaldo published his account, according to www.si.com. In it, he confirmed he is not retiring from the Portugal national team, as reported by the outlet.

The exact reason for the initial rift with Jesus is not fully confirmed beyond Ronaldo's own statement. What is confirmed is that Ronaldo promised the "absolute truth" — and he has now delivered a version of it in writing.

THE TRUTH ON JESUS

In his statement, Ronaldo said he wanted to recount "in the first person and directly" the circumstances surrounding the last training camp, per www.si.com. The nearly 2,000-word release took aim at Portugal manager Jorge Jesus, according to the outlet.

Ronaldo detailed their first meeting at Cidade do Futebol, where his club was holding its preseason training camp, per his statement. He said Jesus had contacted him earlier to schedule a personal meeting, which they set for the end of Ronaldo's holidays.

At that meeting, the coach laid out his plans for the fall international window, according to Ronaldo's account. That conversation, as Ronaldo describes it, is where the friction began.

Jesus's side of the story is not in the source. Only Ronaldo's version of events is provided, and it has not been independently confirmed.