In Copenhagen, Portugal’s 4-2 Nations League win over Denmark brought three points and another reminder of the distance between Jorge Jesus and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portugal coach declined to address the captain’s absence from the squad directly after Thursday’s match, saying he would speak once Sunday’s meeting with Norway has been played.
Federation seeks a way forward
The Portuguese Football Federation is working to prevent the disagreement between Jesus and Ronaldo from becoming a permanent split. Federation president Pedro Proença has been involved in efforts to establish common ground between the coach and the national-team captain, whose future with Portugal has been placed under scrutiny.
- Jesus avoided the subject when asked about Ronaldo immediately after the Denmark victory at Parken Stadium.
- Portugal face Norway on Sunday in their final match of the international window.
- A victory would secure Portugal’s place in the Nations League A knockout rounds and leave them firmly on course to top Group 4.
- Portugal lead the section on nine points, six ahead of Denmark, Norway and Wales.
How the tension developed
The relationship had begun on more agreeable terms. Ronaldo started Portugal’s Nations League opener against Wales, which was also Jesus’s first match in charge of the national side. He played 67 minutes, one day after sitting alongside his new coach at a press conference in which Jesus described him as a symbol of Portugal.
Even then, Jesus made clear that team selection would remain a matter for the coaching staff. The pair had previously worked together for a year at Al-Nassr, but the atmosphere changed around the Norway match.
Ronaldo began that game among the substitutes, with Gonçalo Ramos selected ahead of him. Jesus had signalled beforehand that Ramos could start, but the eventual dispute centred on Ronaldo’s anticipated role later in the contest.
- Ronaldo joined the other substitutes in warming up shortly after half-time.
- He did not enter the match as it unfolded.
- Gonçalo Ramos scored the goal that gave Portugal an away win.
- At the final whistle, Ronaldo left the pitch quickly and appeared unhappy.
Training absence and Ronaldo’s departure
Attention around the camp intensified when Ronaldo did not take part in Tuesday’s training session. Different explanations circulated in Portugal, prompting Proença to visit the squad’s base on Wednesday in an attempt to smooth matters over.
The federation president met both Jesus and Ronaldo, with the discussions understood to have been constructive. Yet the mood shifted again during Jesus’s subsequent press conference, dominated by questions about Ronaldo, the Norway game and their working relationship.
Jesus had initially intended to take only two questions on Ronaldo, but faced six. He showed frustration at points, although he responded to each of them. The coach denied there was a dispute, explaining that he had planned to use Ronaldo for between 20 and 30 minutes against Norway before the course of the match altered that plan.
Jesus said his mistake had been sending the forward to warm up immediately after the interval. At the same time, he underlined that Ronaldo’s standing within Portuguese football would not alter the coach’s authority over selection decisions.
Shortly after the press conference, Ronaldo left Parken Stadium before training began and announced on social media that he would depart the Portugal camp. He said he would give his version of events in due course.
His decision came as a surprise because Jesus had indicated that Ronaldo was expected to train normally with the group. The coach had also suggested that Gonçalo Ramos was again likely to start. With Portugal heading into Sunday’s match against Norway, the federation’s immediate task is now to protect both its Nations League campaign and the captain’s place within it.
