Portugal manager Jorge Jesus has dismissed suggestions that his decisions contributed to Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from the national team, insisting that he has nothing to regret about how he handled the situation.
The 72-year-old made his position clear on Friday during a press conference where he announced his squad for the upcoming Nations League matches.
When asked whether he would have approached the situation differently, Jesus maintained that his decisions were guided by the interests of the team and Portuguese football rather than personal considerations.
He insisted that he had no intention of doing anything that could force Ronaldo out of international football and was convinced that his actions were not responsible for the outcome.
Jesus also rejected suggestions that he felt guilty about the end of Ronaldo’s remarkable international career, which produced 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal.
Although he admitted that events may have moved quickly, he maintained that Ronaldo’s decision was ultimately personal and said he respected the striker’s choice.
The disagreement reportedly started in September when Ronaldo was left on the bench throughout Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League victory over Norway, despite warming up during the second half.
The 41-year-old subsequently left the national team camp, sparking speculation about tensions between him and the coaching staff.
Jesus, who previously worked with Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, revealed that they had discussed managing the forward’s workload. However, he stressed that his decisions as Portugal manager would always prioritise the collective interest of the team.
The coach further disclosed that he had expected Ronaldo to return to the national team and had even considered including him in the squad for the current international window.
Despite the disagreement, Jesus said there were no personal grudges between them, describing Ronaldo as an enduring symbol of Portuguese football.
His comments have added another dimension to the circumstances surrounding the veteran forward’s international retirement, bringing attention to the difficult balance between managing an ageing superstar and making decisions in the interest of a national team.
