Ronaldo Rules Out Portugal Return
Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly told people close to him that he does not intend to return to the Portugal national team while Jorge Jesus remains in charge, deepening the dispute between the veteran forward and the national team coach.
According to CNN Portugal commentator Rui Santos, Ronaldo was particularly unhappy with comments made by Jesus following the events that led to his departure from the national-team camp.
Ronaldo reportedly left the squad after Jesus confirmed that he would not start Portugal’s Nations League match against Denmark. The 41-year-old had already been an unused substitute during Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway.
Rui Santos claimed that Ronaldo was “very badly impressed” by the statements from Jesus and Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença.
He reportedly went as far as saying that he would not return to the national team “at least while Jorge Jesus is in charge”. Santos also said Ronaldo was particularly outraged by the way Jesus handled the situation.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Ronaldo has already returned to club duty with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
The Portuguese superstar was back in training with his teammates on Monday after leaving Portugal’s camp. Al-Nassr also shared photographs of Ronaldo during the training session, while the forward himself posted images on social media showing him smiling and appearing to enjoy his return to the gym and club environment.
His relaxed appearance at Al-Nassr comes just days after his sudden departure from the Portugal camp, with the contrasting images attracting attention as speculation continues over his international future.
The development comes despite Jesus publicly leaving the door open for Ronaldo’s return. The Portugal coach has said that Ronaldo can return to the national team if he wants to, making the decision largely dependent on the player.
Ronaldo, however, has not officially announced his retirement from international football. He previously said he would reveal the reasons behind his departure from the national team “in due course”.
For now, Ronaldo’s focus appears to be back on Al-Nassr, where he is preparing for the club’s next Saudi Pro League fixture against Al-Diriyah on October 9.
His future with Portugal, meanwhile, remains uncertain, with his reported stance suggesting that a return could depend on whether Jorge Jesus continues as national-team coach.
About the Author
Karrel Hamutenya is a senior sports journalist at The Updated World, with more than five years of experience reporting on local sport in Namibia and international sports news.His work covers match reports, transfer updates, and exclusive interviews with athletes, providing fans with deeper insight into the game and the people behind it.
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