Zidane Backs Ronaldo After Portugal Camp Exit Dispute
Zinedine Zidane has offered a firm defence of Cristiano Ronaldo as the Portugal forward faces renewed scrutiny after leaving his national-team camp in Copenhagen following a dispute with Jorge Jesus. The France manager said Ronaldo’s international standing should be judged by the scale of his career rather than the circumstances surrounding his sudden exit.
Speaking before France’s UEFA Nations League meeting with Belgium, Zidane rejected the suggestion that Ronaldo’s time at the top is ending unhappily. “He deserves congratulations for an outstanding career and for what he has achieved,” Zidane said, making clear that criticism of his former Real Madrid player had gone too far.
The pair enjoyed a highly successful spell together in Madrid, where Zidane led Real to an unprecedented run of European success from 2016 to 2018. Ronaldo was central to those victories, and Zidane said the trophies won during that period remain a major reason for his lasting appreciation of the Portuguese forward.
“I was fortunate to coach him, and he helped us win remarkable things,” Zidane said. “I have enormous respect for Cristiano. I respect every player, but there is an even stronger bond with those you have spent so much time with, especially someone who brought us so many victories.”
France focused on Nations League position
Zidane’s comments came as he prepared France for another important Nations League fixture against Belgium. His start as Les Bleus manager has included away wins in Turkey and Belgium, as well as a draw with Italy in Paris, leaving France unbeaten as they pursue first place in their group.
The former Real Madrid coach said the rhythm of international management requires a different approach from club football, where the demands are continuous. “At club level, it is constant and consumes you every day,” he said. “I enjoyed that, but this is another aspect of the job and I will work in a slightly different way. The determination to do the best work for my team remains the same.”
France now seek to extend that unbeaten sequence against Belgium and strengthen their position at the top of the group. Ronaldo, meanwhile, remains at the centre of attention after promising to explain the events that led to his Portugal departure.
