Ronnie Onewu, the former Manchester United star, launched a sharp attack on his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo in a television interview, accusing the Portuguese of behaving in an inappropriate manner in light of the Portuguese national team crisis. This reprimand came in the context of Ronaldo's departure from the national team camp after a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus over his role in the team, which sparked widespread controversy in football circles.
On The United Stand, Rooney said it was “wrong in every way” when Ronaldo left the national team camp without showing any interest in playing, even though he trained for 30 minutes before being placed on the bench for the Norway match, which ended in a 2-1 victory for Portugal. He added that Ronaldo's statements in which he criticized coach Jesus, and addressed what was supposed to be said in a press conference, were "in violation of football standards" and negatively affected the respect of the technical staff and the Portuguese Football Federation.
“You can't tell a coach what to say, this goes beyond anything I've ever seen,” Rooney said, noting that Ronaldo's actions at this stage of his international career, which is nearing its end, do not show mutual respect between players and coaches. He also pointed out that the end of the player's international career represents a sensitive stage, and that he regrets the way Ronaldo dealt with this transition.
These criticisms come in light of reports of possible disciplinary measures against Ronaldo, as the Portuguese Football Federation approved a temporary suspension from October 10 until it completes an independent disciplinary investigation. On the other hand, Jesus remains open to the possibility of Ronaldo returning to the national team in the future, stressing that the decision to choose the player will depend on the circumstances and upcoming technical decisions.
The football landscape is influenced by the opinions of former players, showing how personal differences can interfere with the course of a national team. As investigations continue, Ronaldo's future with the national team remains uncertain, while Rooney remains vocal in his rejection of any behavior that might undermine sportsmanship and respect within the team.