Jorge Jesus breaks silence on Ronaldo's Portugal retirement
Portugal coach Jorge Jesus responds to Cristiano Ronaldo's decision to quit the national team, says he feels no guilt and respects the star's final call.
Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has spoken for the first time about Cristiano Ronaldo's decision to end his international career, insisting he carries no guilt or responsibility for the forward's departure from the national team.
"You should ask him"
Asked whether he was surprised that Ronaldo had previously talked about wanting to carry on before deciding to step away, Jesus said that question was one for the player himself. The only thing he could say with certainty, he explained, was that the pair spent a year working together, were happy at Al Nassr and won the league title side by side.
Jesus said he respects the choice Ronaldo has made at this point in his career. He revealed that the plan had been for them to work together over these years, but stressed that the final word always belonged to the player. The coach also admitted he has not yet spoken to Ronaldo, adding that there will be enough time for that conversation later.
Same responsibility for Portugal
On what the captain's absence means for his staff, Jesus was clear: losing Ronaldo neither increases nor reduces the burden on the coaching team, and their responsibility remains exactly the same. His comments signal that Portugal are ready to move into a new era without their all-time leading scorer.
Follow Portugal's upcoming fixtures and place your prediction on Melbet; to register or log in, simply use the Melbet button below this article.
Enter Melbet →
