PORTO (PORTUGAL) (ITALPRESS) – The door remains open. Cristiano Ronaldo remains the elephant in the room for a Portugal side that, however, knows how to win without him: last night at the “Do Dragao,” the Portuguese defeated Norway once again and, with four wins from four games, secured early qualification for the Nations League quarter-finals. But the rift with CR7, who left the national team camp on the eve of the match against Denmark on September 30, continues to dominate the headlines.
Pressed on the issue after the match in Porto, head coach Jorge Jesus tried to extend an olive branch: “I don’t know what Cris may decide. I’ve already said what I had to say, but I’ll add something. For me, initially, it was never an issue. It was something I considered normal as a coach. There are principles, as a coach, that are non-negotiable, but since there was nothing particularly significant as far as my authority was concerned, for me Cris will be, in the next international window, if he is playing for Al Nassr, a player who can be called up if he wants to return to the national team.”
Jesus acknowledged that “just because it was him – and perhaps rightly so, because he is a symbol – this whole issue arose over the fact that he warmed up against Norway and then did not come on. If Cris wants to return and is playing for Al Nassr, he will be included in the next squad. We spoke before this international window and we can speak before the next one. But Cris will be the one to decide.”
The Portugal coach insists that “it does not depend on me” and, echoing comments made by Bruno Fernandes, added: “One of the things I told Cris was that he could not end his national-team career at a World Cup by losing and crying. He had to finish his time with the national team playing. That is why he played in the first match at the Alvalade, and he was supposed to play here as well [in Porto, ed.]. But, in light of what happened, everything turned out differently.
“I, too, spent a year sharing everything that the Ronaldo symbol and brand represent, especially for children,” he added, referring to their time together at Al Nassr. “For me, there is no issue. The situation between him and me has been blown out of proportion. A lot of people got involved and made it seem as though there was a problem, when there wasn’t one.
“The fact that a coach asks a player with a different status to warm up and then does not bring him on created this issue. Do you really think that is enough of a reason for what Cris represents to end like this, all of a sudden? I want him to be there. He knows that it will come to an end, that it won’t last forever.”
“But I would like him to end his time with the national team the way he wants. He will be the one to decide. When he received his first call-up, I told him: ‘I need you. Whether you play or not, I need you.’ And it is the same now.”
There is one thing, however, that Jesus makes clear: “I am not apologizing to anyone. What should I apologize for?”
Portugal Football Federation president Pedro Proença also addressed the Ronaldo issue: “We are talking about the greatest player of all time, a player who has dedicated more than two decades to Portuguese football. He is in the national team on sporting merit, and that must be absolutely beyond question. He will always be part of this squad whenever he is technically able to do so.
“As for this specific situation, let me say that we are dealing with a misunderstanding that needs to be resolved internally. We will have the time and the peace of mind to sit down together and sort it out. Let me reiterate: Cristiano Ronaldo is part of our heritage and he will always be here if the coach wants him. What we want is for all of us to be together again with our national team in November.”
— Photo: IPA Agency —
(ITALPRESS)
