Riyadh has received Cristiano Ronaldo back at Al-Nassr, where the Portugal captain returned to club duties on Monday with a closely cropped haircut, having dropped the blond colouring seen previously. His arrival comes after an abrupt departure from the Portuguese national-team camp, a dispute that has cast doubt over his immediate international future.
The news from the club
Ronaldo has resumed work with Al-Nassr ahead of Friday’s Saudi Pro League meeting with Diriyah. Ange Postecoglou’s side sit fifth in the table, four points behind leaders Al-Hilal, as the season resumes in Saudi Arabia.
The 40-year-old left Portugal’s camp last Wednesday, departing Parken Stadium before the squad’s training session and shortly after Jorge Jesus had faced questions from the media about their relationship. Ronaldo subsequently said on social media that he would explain to the Portuguese public, in due course, why he had chosen to leave.
Portugal have continued winning without their captain. Victories over Denmark and Norway extended Jorge Jesus’ start as national coach to four wins from four matches.
How the Portugal disagreement developed
Ronaldo started Portugal’s Nations League opener against Wales, which was also Jesus’ first game in charge. He played 67 minutes, following a press conference the previous day in which the coach had warmly praised him as a national symbol. Jesus nevertheless made clear that team selection would remain a matter for his coaching staff.
The tone changed in the away match against Norway on Sunday. Ronaldo was named among the substitutes, with Gonçalo Ramos selected up front after Jesus had already suggested that possibility. Ronaldo joined the other replacements in warming up shortly after half-time, but did not enter the game.
Ramos went on to score the goal that secured Portugal’s victory. At the final whistle, Ronaldo left the pitch immediately and appeared frustrated, prompting scrutiny of the captain’s relationship with the new manager.
His absence from Tuesday training added to the discussion in Portugal. The president of the Portuguese Football Federation travelled to the team base on Wednesday and held talks involving Ronaldo and Jesus. Those discussions were understood to have gone well, but the situation shifted again after the coach’s subsequent press conference.
Jesus initially intended to take only two questions concerning Ronaldo, yet addressed six as reporters pressed him on the Norway match and the perceived disagreement. He rejected the suggestion of a rift, explaining that he had expected to use Ronaldo for between 20 and 30 minutes against Norway but that the course of the match altered that plan.
The coach accepted that sending Ronaldo to warm up immediately after the interval had been his mistake. He also underlined that Ronaldo’s standing within Portugal would not alter the manager’s authority over player selection.
Jesus had indicated that Ronaldo would train with the group and said he was considering Ramos for another start. Instead, Ronaldo left the camp before training, leaving Portugal without their captain and creating fresh uncertainty around his role in the national side.
