Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus told reporters on Friday that he had expected Cristiano Ronaldo to return to the national team, according to beIN SPORTS. Ronaldo, 41, announced his retirement from international football on Thursday, and Jesus said he accepts the decision even though he had planned to reach out to the player.
Speaking at a press conference at the Cidade do Futebol complex in Oeiras, outside Lisbon, Jesus said he had intended to call Ronaldo up and speak with him, beIN SPORTS reports. The coach added that he has to respect the choice and that a departure of this kind was bound to happen eventually.
Why it matters
Ronaldo's exit closes a long chapter for Portugal and removes the team's most prominent figure from the squad just as Jesus was preparing to name his selections. The coach's comments matter because they address, at least in part, the question of whether the split was avoidable — and they make clear that Jesus does not intend to revisit his own conduct.
According to beIN SPORTS, Jesus said he does not know how to explain why Ronaldo reached his decision, and that he found out about the retirement at the same moment as everyone else. The announcement video was played in the room before the press conference and before the squad was named.
Friendship from their time at Al Nassr
Jesus pointed to the relationship the two men built last season at the Saudi club Al Nassr, describing it as a strong friendship, per beIN SPORTS. He also noted that Ronaldo was still playing and still finding the net at club level, which is part of why he had assumed a return was likely.
On the conflict that preceded the retirement, Jesus said there is no resentment on his side. He defended his own record in the episode, saying he made a coaching decision with his team and the Portuguese national team in mind, and that he is aware he did nothing to cause the outcome. He added that he would not change anything about how he acted.
The September walkout and its consequences
beIN SPORTS reports that Ronaldo left the Portugal camp without warning on September 30 after falling out with Jesus. The trigger came after he was left out of the match against Norway in Oslo on September 27, which Portugal lost 1-2. Ronaldo's stated reason for the disagreement was that he had been sent to warm up for half an hour and was then not used.
The player received a 30-day suspension and a fine of 255 euros, according to beIN SPORTS. That suspension has already run its course, meaning he was eligible for selection again before he chose to step away from international football.
What happens next: Portugal proceed without Ronaldo, and attention turns to how Jesus reshapes his squad in the first selections of the post-Ronaldo era.
