The head coach of the Portugal national team, Jorge Jesus, has shared his thoughts on Cristiano Ronaldo following a dramatic incident during the October international break.
Jesus stressed the unique importance of the forward to the national squad and to the country.
“I cannot ignore the topic of Cristiano Ronaldo. He is a symbol of the Portugal national team. He is a symbol of Portugal. Let that be perfectly clear.
After the match, we will have plenty of time to discuss this,” Jesus stated.
Why Ronaldo left the national team camp
The stir came after Jesus decided not to field Ronaldo during the Nations League match against Norway. The Portuguese superstar spent the entire match on the bench, and ahead of the upcoming game against Denmark, the coach confirmed Ronaldo would once again not start.
Following the press conference, Ronaldo departed the national camp in Copenhagen. He later informed his followers on social media that he had made the decision to leave after speaking with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, Pedro Proenca. The player promised to eventually reveal the truth behind his decision to the Portuguese people.
Jesus has previously denied any conflict with the captain. He explained that while Ronaldo was disappointed at not having played against Norway, he insisted that no incident occurred between them.
Ronaldo's future with the national team remains uncertain
The departure of the 41-year-old forward has raised questions regarding his future with the national team. Ronaldo has yet to announce any definitive retirement from international duty.
Jesus promised to provide more detailed commentary on the situation after the match. Thus, his remarks about Ronaldo were made amidst the uncertainty surrounding the player's relationship with the coaching staff and his future as captain of the national team.
