Rabat – Cristiano Ronaldo does not intend to return to the Portugal national team while Jorge Jesus remains head coach, according to Portuguese journalist Rui Santos, adding another chapter to the dispute surrounding the country’s longtime captain.
Speaking on CNN Portugal’s “Rui Santos Em Campo,” Santos reported that Ronaldo was deeply unhappy with recent comments from both Jesus and Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) president Pedro Proença.
“Cristiano Ronaldo was very badly impressed by the content of those statements,” Santos said, adding that the forward had indicated he would not return “while Jorge Jesus is in charge.”
Ronaldo himself has not publicly confirmed that condition.
The 41-year-old returned to training with Al Nassr on Monday after leaving Portugal’s camp in Copenhagen on September 30 and missing victories over Denmark and Norway.
Ronaldo reportedly loses trust in Jesus
According to Santos, Ronaldo’s position is primarily linked to a loss of trust in the coach and what the forward sees as contradictions in Jesus’ public comments.
After Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway on Sunday, Jesus reopened the door to Ronaldo, saying the situation was a “misunderstanding” that could be resolved and that the forward could return if he wanted to represent Portugal.
However, Jesus also rejected the idea that he owed Ronaldo an apology and maintained that selection decisions ultimately belong to the coach.
Santos reported that those comments further frustrated Ronaldo, despite Jesus publicly expressing a willingness to bring him back into the squad.
The dispute began after Ronaldo remained an unused substitute during Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway on September 27. Jesus later acknowledged that Ronaldo was unhappy after warming up without being introduced.
Three days later, Ronaldo left the national-team camp and said he would eventually tell Portuguese supporters “the truth” about the reasons for his departure.
FPF president Proença has sought to lower tensions, describing the episode as a misunderstanding and insisting that Ronaldo remains part of Portugal’s plans whenever his sporting level justifies selection.
Portugal’s next international matches are scheduled for November, meaning Ronaldo and Jesus have several weeks to resolve the dispute before the next squad is announced.
