New Delhi, October 5 (Daily Kiran) : Portugal’s national football coach Jorge Jesus has stated that the door remains open for Cristiano Ronaldo to return to the national team if he wishes to play again. Jesus emphasized that Ronaldo needs to make a decision about his future and career before the next team announcement.
The 41-year-old veteran player left the national team camp shortly after publicly discussing his growing disagreements with Coach Jesus regarding his captaincy. Following his departure, Ronaldo took to social media, promising to explain his reasons for leaving the team to the Portuguese people when the time is right.
After Portugal secured a 2-1 victory over Norway at Estádio do Dragão, which advanced them to the Nations League quarter-finals, Jesus addressed Ronaldo’s international future. He remarked, “I don’t know what will happen next. Everything is open on my end. Ronaldo must decide about his life before the next team announcement. If he wants to stay and play for the national team, why not? There are no hard feelings, as it was a misunderstanding. I believe it can be resolved easily. When, I don’t know. The match is over, and now we will see how things progress.”
Ronaldo was part of the team during Portugal’s 1-0 win against Wales in their opening Nations League match. However, in the subsequent match against Norway, he was placed on the bench as a substitute, with reports suggesting he might not play at all. When asked to warm up during the second half, Ronaldo appeared frustrated but remained seated, marking the first time since 2008 that the former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward did not play in a competitive match for his country after being named a substitute.
Following Ronaldo’s exit, Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes remarked that he deserves a grand farewell. When Jesus was asked if he agreed, he responded affirmatively, stating, “I completely agree with what Bruno Fernandes said, as that was my thought too.”
He added, “We are discussing many things. I told Ronaldo that he cannot end his journey by losing in the World Cup and crying. He needed to finish his game for the national team, which is why he played the first match. Coincidentally, that match was in Alvalade. He was meant to play here, but everything changed after what happened. That clears everything up. Now, this is no longer relevant. I am the coach; I can call whoever I want. I don’t ask anyone who to call or who should play. As a coach, there are moments where no compromises can be made, and for that reason, I cannot say anything clearer.”
Leave a Comment