Former Manchester United star Nani revealed details of the phone call he had with Cristiano Ronaldo, the Al Nassr striker, after it was confirmed that he would be leaving Portugal.
The issue of Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from the Portugal camp continues to spark much debate and analysis due to his disagreement with the coaching staff led by Jorge Jesus.
Nani expressed his initial shock in statements reported by the global network "Tribuna": "I spoke with Cristiano after everything happened and asked him a question: 'Brother, are you really going to leave the Portuguese national team this way?'"
He added: "Cristiano didn't answer me immediately; he simply said, 'Nani, you know me well. I can accept being excluded and criticized, but what I cannot accept is feeling that everything I have given to Portugal suddenly has no value.'"
Nani continued regarding the lack of transparent dialogue from the team leadership: "I know Cristiano very well. We shared a dressing room since I was young. I know how high his competitive spirit is. If the coach tells him, 'Cristiano, you won't play tonight because I have a different tactical plan,' he might get angry, but he will understand. However, if you make him feel unwanted, it is completely different."
Nani completed regarding Cristiano Ronaldo's stance on his role in Portugal: "He simply told me, 'Nani, I never asked Portugal to play me just for what I achieved in the past. All I wanted was for them to respect what I can still offer.' Honestly, this deeply affected me and broke something inside me, because this is the Cristiano I know. He doesn't want favors, nor does he want people to put him on the field just because his name is Ronaldo. He wants to realize that when Portugal calls him up, they still believe in his ability to add value."
He added: "I told him, perhaps Jesus is trying to build a team for the future and maybe wants younger players to take responsibility. He replied, 'Then let them do it. I will never stand in their way, but do not build the future by disrespecting the past.'"
Nani concluded regarding the value of honesty in professional football and the Portuguese Football Federation's responsibility towards the legendary striker's legacy: "At that moment, I realized it wasn't about a match or sitting on the bench; it was about communication. You can tell Cristiano, 'Your role has changed,' and you can tell him, 'You won't play every match.' You can even tell him, 'There are matches where we need fresh blood,' but you must look him in the eyes and tell him the truth, because Cristiano is capable of accepting the truth. Cristiano does not need Portugal to protect his legacy; rather, Portugal should remember that it was an honor for Ronaldo to defend its shirt for more than two decades."
