The relationship between Ronaldo and the Portuguese national team continues to be the focus of international media attention as the future of the 41-year-old superstar remains uncertain.
According to CNN Portugal journalist Rui Santos, citing information from Foot Mercato , Ronaldo reportedly took a firm stance with those close to him, stating that he would not return to the national team if Jorge Jesus remained as head coach.
This conflict stemmed from Ronaldo's dissatisfaction at being benched for the entire match against Norway, despite coach Jorge Jesus having promised to bring him on in the second half, leading to his immediate decision to leave the training camp.
Tensions escalated further when his partner, Georgina Rodriguez, publicly criticized the 72-year-old coach, bringing the dialogue between the two to a standstill.
Meanwhile, coach Jorge Jesus insisted that the door to the national team remains wide open and that everything was just a misunderstanding that could be easily resolved. He emphasized that the decision-making power regarding personnel rests entirely with the coaching staff, and even mentioned legends like Pele and Diego Maradona to defend his principle that a player's fame does not equate to special privileges.
However, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) adopted a more conciliatory stance in an attempt to de-escalate tensions. FPF president Pedro Proenca called what happened a misunderstanding.
Besides his crucial leadership role for Portugal, Ronaldo also plays a vital role in commercial matters, sponsorships, and television rights. A parting of ways amidst discord could severely damage the FPF (Portugal Professional Football Joint Stock Company) both financially and in terms of national brand image.
Experts estimate that approximately 30 to 35% of the federation's total revenue of 160 million euros this year is directly related to Ronaldo's global appeal.
However, on the other hand, some experts argue that Portuguese football cannot allow its future to depend on a single individual, especially since coach Jorge Jesus is being considered for a long-term project leading up to the 2030 World Cup.
There has been no official confirmation from Ronaldo or the FPF regarding this information.
Ronaldo has not announced his retirement from the Portuguese national team, Jorge Jesus has not excluded him from his plans, and the FPF continues to send out messages of goodwill. Therefore, Ronaldo's future with the Portuguese national team is not yet closed.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/ronaldo-dat-dieu-kien-cung-ran-de-tro-lai-doi-tuyen-bo-dao-nha-272070.html
