Ronaldo’s statement struck a conciliatory tone in places, but he was also critical of Portugal coach Jesus as he provided his version of the dispute which prompted him to walk out on the squad last week.
He said Jesus had agreed a plan under which the forward would miss the Norway and Denmark matches to manage his fitness.
However, on the day of the Norway game, the 72-year-old coach told him he would play for 30 minutes.
“Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from half-time onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn’t called on,” Ronaldo said.
“The manager had broken his word to me.”
A later meeting with Jesus produced an agreement for the coach to clarify matters at his next news conference.
Ronaldo said an eight-point document was prepared saying he had never demanded playing time, had respected Jesus’ decisions and that the coach asking “someone of the stature of Pele or Maradona” to warm up without bringing him on had been a mistake.
Portugal’s record appearance holder said the agreed notes did not require Jesus to apologise to him but said the coach’s public remarks did not reflect their private discussion.
“The conference was what is known: the attitude had nothing to do with our meeting,” Ronaldo explained.
“I heard expressions and an aggressiveness I believe I did not deserve, a “High and mighty” attitude that he never showed me, not even remotely, in private the day before.”
Ronaldo said it was the “second time” Jesus had “broken his word to me” and he decided to leave the training camp “without waiting for any further broken promises”.
Prior to his appointment as head coach, Ronaldo said he had described Jesus – who had previously managed him at Al Nassr – as the “right choice”.
Ronaldo had considered retiring from international football after this summer’s World Cup – at which Portugal exited at the last-16 stage – and said he had written a letter to fans containing the words he wanted to tell them when he announced it, but he was urged to reconsider by the FPF’s president, Pedro Proenca, on the flight home from the United States.
Ronaldo’s behaviour drew contrasting opinions in his homeland with Jesus getting some support in the media and among fans at odds with those loyal to legendary player.
Ronaldo said that, despite the “absolute breakdown of trust” in Jesus’ word, he should not have left and the “responsibility is mine alone”, as he said sorry to his fellow players and Portugal’s supporters.
He added: “I owe an apology to my national team teammates for having left the camp… I apologise to the Portuguese people once again, but a broken word has, for me, a defining impact.”
