Portugal coach Jorge Jesus refused on Saturday to comment on the ongoing crisis with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who left the international gathering on Wednesday, furious at being announced as a substitute for the second consecutive match.
Jesus’ press conference before the Nations League match against Norway was cut short by the Portuguese selection’s communications service, after numerous questions about “CR7”.
“If I spoke with +Cris+? I’m not going to tell you anything. It is a symbol of our selection and of Portugal. We will have time to talk about all this after the match. Let me focus on the team, and our opponent, Norway, one of the top five nations in Europe, with great players. This is our problem for the moment,” declared the ex-Benfica coach.
The 41-year-old Portuguese striker announced on Wednesday that he had left his team’s rally after discovering, during a press conference, that Jorge Jesus planned to leave him on the bench for the second consecutive match.
Ronaldo’s entourage cast doubt on the potential international retirement of the top scorer and most capped player in Portugal’s history, with 234 caps and 146 goals scored.
His teammate Bruno Fernandes, present at a press conference with his coach, confirmed that he had spoken with the ex-Real Madrid star, and launched an appeal for “unity”: “What I told him, I repeat here: the most important thing is that, whatever happens, + Cris + will forever remain the greatest symbol of our national team and Portuguese football. Not only in our country, but all over the world,” said the Manchester United midfielder.
“He has, without a doubt, a reserved place not only among the best players of all time, but also in the hearts of all Portuguese people,” he insisted.
Portugal, currently leading Group 4 of the Nations League after three consecutive successes, including two without Ronaldo, hosts Erling Haaland’s Norway on Sunday in Porto.
