Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister, Elma Aveiro, has publicly backed the Portugal captain after his shock departure from the national team’s training camp, sharing a message that accused the country of failing to show the forward enough respect.
Aveiro shared the message on her Instagram account on Wednesday, commenting in Portugese, “everything has been said here”, according to the post.
The translated post read, “CR7 deserved more respect. The national team deserved more structure.
“Portuguese journalism deserved more competence and less speculation.
“As for the Portuguese people, well… they don’t deserve to have the best at anything.
“We are envious, disdainful, ignorant, and we deserve to return to the mediocrity we always had in football before CR7.
“Thank you for everything, CR7! You deserved more!”
The development came hours after Ronaldo announced that he had left Portugal’s training camp in Copenhagen ahead of Thursday’s UEFA Nations League clash with Denmark.
Ronaldo said his decision followed the national team coach Jorge Jesus’ press conference and a conversation with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença.
“Following the national team manager’s press conference, and after a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team’s training camp,” Ronaldo said in a statement posted on Instagram.
“In due course, I will tell all Portuguese people the truth about the reasons behind my departure from the national team, to which I have always been fully committed.
“Now is the time to wish Portugal and all my team-mates, without exception, the best of luck,” he added.
Ronaldo’s departure came after Jesus addressed reports of tension surrounding the forward’s role in the team.
The 41-year-old was an unused substitute as Portugal defeated Norway 2-1 in their previous Nations League match, while Jesus had indicated that Ronaldo would not start against Denmark.
The Portuguese Football Federation subsequently confirmed Ronaldo’s departure from the camp.
Jesus, however, denied that Ronaldo had refused to train or that there was a major confrontation between them.
The latest developments have fuelled speculation over Ronaldo’s future with Portugal, although neither the player nor the Portuguese Football Federation has announced his retirement from international football.
Ronaldo remains Portugal’s record goalscorer and most-capped player. Reuters reported that his international future was now uncertain following his departure from the camp.
Aveiro’s post has added another layer to the controversy, particularly because its closing message — “Thank you for everything, CR7! You deserved more!” — could be read as a suggestion that the forward’s Portugal career may be coming to an end.
However, Ronaldo himself had not announced his international retirement and had instead said he will later explain the reasons for leaving the camp, PUNCH Online reported Wednesday night.
