Ex-Barcelona Star Arturo Vidal Slams Portugal Coach Over ‘Disrespectful’ Ronaldo Treatment
Former Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal has thrown his support behind Cristiano Ronaldo following the Portuguese star’s dramatic departure from the national team camp, while criticising head coach Jorge Jesus over the way the situation was handled.
Vidal, who currently plays for Colo-Colo, described the circumstances surrounding Ronaldo’s exit as unacceptable and said the Portugal captain deserved greater care and respect because of his contribution to the national team.
His comments came after Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp in Copenhagen on September 30, following tensions with Jesus.
Speaking about the controversy, Vidal said Ronaldo is among the greatest players in football history and questioned why his departure from the national team had been allowed to happen in such circumstances.
The former Barcelona, Juventus and Bayern Munich midfielder said Ronaldo had given everything to Portugal and played a major role in elevating the national team on the international stage.
Vidal also criticised the manner in which Jesus subsequently addressed the situation, saying the coach had handled parts of the episode poorly.
“The coach is making a big mistake. All my support to Cristiano,” Vidal said.
Vidal went further by arguing that Ronaldo should be protected and treated with consideration because of his contribution to Portuguese football.
He described the 41-year-old forward as one of the four greatest players in football history and said Ronaldo was instrumental in taking Portugal to another level.
According to Vidal, the veteran forward deserved more respect from those overseeing the national team.
The Chilean also said Ronaldo was within his rights to make decisions about his international career after everything he had achieved for Portugal.
The controversy began after Ronaldo was left on the bench throughout Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League victory over Norway on September 27.
Jesus had instructed Ronaldo to warm up during the match, but the striker was ultimately not introduced.
According to reports about the dispute, Ronaldo felt aggrieved by the situation, particularly amid an alleged understanding over his involvement in the match. Reports later said Jesus apologised to Ronaldo behind closed doors, although the relationship between the two remained strained.
On September 30, after Jesus indicated that Ronaldo would again not start Portugal’s next game, Ronaldo announced that he was leaving the national team camp.
He said he had spoken with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença before making the decision and promised to explain the reasons for his departure “in due course.”
Portugal subsequently defeated Denmark 4-2 in the Nations League without Ronaldo.
The result added another layer to the debate surrounding the veteran forward’s place in the national team, although it does not by itself resolve the disagreement between Ronaldo and Jesus.
Jesus has maintained that no player should receive special treatment because of status, while Ronaldo has yet to give his full public account of what happened inside the camp.
For Vidal, however, Ronaldo’s contribution to Portugal means the circumstances surrounding his exit deserved greater consideration.
The former Barcelona star reiterated his support for Ronaldo and said the Portuguese captain had earned the right to make decisions about his future after years of service to the national team.
Vidal’s intervention adds another prominent voice to a growing debate over Ronaldo’s treatment under Jesus, as attention now turns to whether the two sides can resolve their differences and what the dispute could mean for Ronaldo’s international future.
