Jorge Jesus was taken by surprise by the video published, on Thursday, by Cristiano Ronaldo, on social media, in which he himself made public his intention to resign from Portugal’s main team, at the age of 41, according to information provided, this Friday, by the newspaper A Bola.
The Al Nassr player reportedly informed the president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), Pedro Proença, that he would not wear the Quinas team’s jersey again, but he did not do the same with the national coach, who even planned to call him up for the last two games of the Nations League group stage.
Despite what happened during the last break for international commitments, when the striker chose to leave the national team’s concentration, in disagreement with the way he was being managed, the coach continued to count on him. A feeling that, however, was not reciprocated.
After accusing Jorge Jesus of failing to speak on two separate occasions, Cristiano Ronaldo made the decision not to play again for the Portuguese team while he was there, so, knowing that he was going to call him, he preferred to ‘play in advance’ and end his journey on the international stage.
“I have to accept his decision”
Jorge Jesus’ reaction to Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision would eventually emerge shortly after he made it public: “Cris is a world reference, for Portugal, for the national team… He has given a lot to the national team over these years. He is a symbol for Portuguese youth. I had the opportunity to share a year with him at Al Nassr. He will always be a reference for the national team. I had a large image of him placed in the auditorium”.
“We already had the opportunity to talk about this before the first call-up. I asked him to continue, because I needed him to be by my side, but I have to accept his decision. He will always be in the hearts of the Portuguese, in the national team… There is no turning back. He will always be a reference in Portuguese football”, he said, in statements made to Canal 11.
The Madeiran, remember, was sanctioned with 30 days of suspension (and a fine worth 255 euros), due to his abandonment of the national team’s concentration, on September 30th, on the eve of the victory achieved in the trip to Parken, over Denmark, by 2-4, which ended on October 30th.
Jorge Jesus announces squad members this Friday
After Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘goodbye’, Jorge Jesus is now preparing to announce the list of players called up for the last two rounds of the Nations League group stage, in which Portugal will face Denmark (on November 14, at Braga Municipal Stadium) and Wales (three days later, at Cardiff City Stadium).
The press conference is scheduled to start at 12:00 pm (Mainland Portugal time), at Cidade do Futebol, in Oeiras. The quinas team, remember, is already guaranteed qualification for the quarter-finals, with 12 points won out of 12 possible, so all they can do is guarantee the leadership of Group 4.
