Cristiano Ronaldo has accused Portugal's coach of breaking a promise to him and says he wants to keep playing for the national team, according to reports from BILD and other German outlets published Tuesday.
In a statement BILD described as explosive, Ronaldo addressed how his departure from the squad came about and used the German word "Wortbruch" — a broken word or promise — to describe the coach's conduct. Kicker reported the same accusation, saying Ronaldo explained how the departure unfolded and made clear he wants to continue playing.
Transfermarkt characterized the statement as containing both an apology and a reckoning, and quoted Ronaldo referring to "the pure truth." SZ.de likewise reported that Ronaldo accuses the coach of breaking his word and wishes to keep playing.
The outlets did not agree on every framing, but they converge on the core points: Ronaldo says a commitment made to him was not honored, he has given his account of how he came to leave, and he has no intention of stepping away from Portugal.
The full text of the statement was published by BILD under the headline describing it as explosive.
What to watch next: whether Portugal's federation or the coach responds to the accusation, and whether Ronaldo is included in the next squad.
