“The ego corroded Cristiano Ronaldo. How will you return to Portugal?”

Christophe Dugarry joined the chorus of criticisms addressed to Cristiano Ronaldo this Monday because of the way the 41-year-old player chose to abandon the main national selection, in disagreement with Jorge Jesus, last Wednesday, on the eve of the victory over Denmark, in Parken, by 2-4.

For the former French international and current sports commentator of the ‘Rothen s’enflamme’ programme, issued by the Gaulsa television station RMC SportAl Nassr's advance is no longer in a position to represent Portugal again: “This makes me tired. It is terrible to have so little respect for their countrymen and their nation.”.

“It’s terrible, because that wasn’t the image he used to project. He was projecting the image of a decent person, supportive, big, generous... But now I have the impression that he's turned, that his ego has been eating him away over the past few months. He could've walked out a huge door, but it's over, he put it all down. How do you expect him to come back? To do what? ", questioned.

“ The talent of a great player like Ronaldo derives, in part, from recognizing when you are no longer playing up. There were already three international competitions in which that was not the case. His national team plays better without him (...). He should be committed to passing testimony. All this because the coach told him that he was going to play for half an hour and then changed his mind,” he added.

Finally, the 54-year-old former spearhead, who was noted for the service of clubs such as Barcelona, AC Milan or Marseille, sent a message directly to Madeira: “What message are you sending to Portuguese youth?”.

Jorge Jesus keeps the doors open to Cristiano Ronaldo

Despite the words of Christophe Dugarry, the truth is that last Sunday, at the press conference that followed the triumph over Norway, by 2-1, which earned the clearance for the final quarters of the League of Nations, the national selector, Jorge Jesus kept the doors of Portugal open to Cristiano Ronaldo.

“ For me, at first, it was never an affair. It was something I thought was normal as a coach. Having a player with the symbol that he is for the country and for the selection... There are principles as coach that are non-negotiable, but since there was nothing special in terms of what is my authority, for me, Cris at the next call will be, if you are playing at Al Nassr, a convocable player, if he wants to return to the selection ", said.

“ You cannot charge, in my opinion, a one-year friendship in a situation you cannot understand. Just because he did it, he created himself – and probably because it's a symbol – this whole problem of getting in, warming up, not getting in... How many of you got warmed up today and didn't come in? Is there a problem? Nope. Cris is different, it's the symbol. But it is a problem”, he continued.

“ For me, it wasn't a problem. If Cris wants to play Al Nassr, he'll be in. We spoke before this call and we can talk before the next one, but it is Cris who will decide (...). Don't go through me. To have an agreement with two people, it is necessary for both people to talk and wake up ", completed.