It’s not over yet; Jorge Jesus shifts the blame onto Cristiano Ronaldo

Jorge Jesus leaves the decision up to the controversial Cristiano Ronaldo. “If he wants to and is playing for Al-Nassr, he’ll be on the next roster. He’ll decide.”

The coach’s words aren’t just an attempt to shift responsibility; they sound like a call to clarify a situation that has now become delicate, with the goal of achieving the reconciliation hoped for by the entire country. During the most tense hours—those following CR7’s departure from the training camp in Copenhagen—even Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro personally intervened in an attempt to facilitate mediation.

“It was all a misunderstanding,” Jorge Jesus reiterated. “As far as I’m concerned, the issue is easy to resolve. I understand that he’s an icon, but I don’t think it’s a big deal for a player to warm up and then not come on. How often does that happen? I stand by what we said before this break. I’m convinced he couldn’t have ended his national team career with tears in his eyes after losing a World Cup match. He needs to go out on a high note. I told him, ‘Whether you play or not, we need you,’ and the situation hasn’t changed.”

After solidifying his standing in the eyes of the Portuguese public thanks to his fourth consecutive victory at the helm of the national team, the seasoned coach is attempting to mend fences: will his words be enough?