65% of Portuguese disagree with how Ronaldo left the national team
A Netsonda poll of 483 people found 65% still disagreed with Cristiano Ronaldo's exit both before and after his statement, while his sister doubted he would return to the squad.
What the poll found
Netsonda, a market research firm, asked 483 people about Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from Portugal's national team in two waves. The first ran from 2 to 7 October, before the player's version of events was public, and the second from 8 to 12 October, after his statement. In the first wave 65% disagreed with how he left, 40% of them strongly, while 15% agreed. The second wave barely moved: 65% still disagreed, 13% agreed, 22% stayed neutral and 5% did not answer. Of those who disagreed before the statement, 84% kept that view afterwards. Some 83% of respondents said they knew about the statement, 46% having read or heard it and 37% having learned of it from the news.
- Disagree, 2-7 October
- 65 %
- Disagree, 8-12 October
- 65 %
- Agree, 2-7 October
- 15 %
- Agree, 8-12 October
- 13 %
Coach or player
Asked whom they sided with, 43% of first-wave respondents backed the coach, Jorge Jesus, against 10% who backed the player. Support for Jesus grew after the statement, with 53% siding with him in the second wave. Another 11% said both sides had a point and 12% backed neither. About a quarter said they still lacked enough information to judge.
How the rift developed
Ronaldo left Portugal's training camp at the end of September, before the 2-4 win over Denmark at the Parken stadium in Copenhagen. According to Notícias ao Minuto, he had been warmed up in Oslo during the 1-2 win over Norway at the Ullevaal Stadion without being given the chance to play. In a statement issued in early October he accused Jesus of breaking his word. He also apologised to his teammates for leaving the camp. The outlet reported that his later comments on the subject at a press conference were aggressive in tone. In the statement he defended his record and his conduct:
Never, at any point, have I interfered in any technical or tactical decision of any coach or national team manager, in almost 25 years of career.
- Ronaldo leaves Portugal's training camp before the win over Denmark in Copenhagen
- Ronaldo issues a statement accusing coach Jorge Jesus of breaking his word over the Oslo match
- Second Netsonda poll wave finds 65% still disagreeing with his exit
Family and a columnist
Elma Aveiro, Ronaldo's sister, spoke to reporters in Lisbon after a book presentation that Jesus also attended. SAPO printed the same remarks under the name Kátia Aveiro. She said the public had forgotten what her brother had already achieved and that he deserved better treatment. Asked whether he wanted to return to the squad, she said:
I don't think so. It's more no than yes.
She added that both men were hurt and that the situation was stuck, and she was doubtful they would make peace:
When we are betrayed, going back to normal is very difficult.
Separately, Luis Henrique Miguel, the coach's lawyer according to La Razón, resigned as a columnist for the Record newspaper. He cited Ronaldo's controlling stake in Medialivre, the paper's owner. He said that while the captain remains in open conflict with Jesus, continuing to write there would be inappropriate, even embarrassing. He described the decision as a personal one, taken without pressure from anyone.
