Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a lifeline by his Portugal manager and team-mates, who insist they would welcome his return despite his explosive walkout.
Ronaldo missed Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway in the Nations League on Sunday after abandoning their international camp due to a row with manager Jorge Jesus.
The iconic forward was fuming that he was left on the bench for the entire first game against Norway a week before. He then missed three training sessions and the Thursday game against Denmark, flying away on his private jet.
He still risks a six-month ban from Portugal duty for his conduct after he also pledged to tell ‘the truth’ about the scandal one day.
There have been reports that Portugal are in negotiations for a possible farewell match for Ronaldo, but these have been dismissed by Portuguese outlet Record. Ronaldo also appeared to not watch the game against Norway as he was on his private jet with his family in a picture shared by his wife Georgina Rodriguez.
But after their comeback victory against Norway, manager Jesus insisted Ronaldo could return in the next international break in November, saying: ‘As far as I’m concerned, everything is open. It’s up to Cris to decide his own life. In the next call-up, if Cris is playing and wants to be in the national team, why not?
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal manager and team-mates insist he is welcome back
Ronaldo caused a storm by walking out on their international camp – and appeared to skip watching their match against Norway on Sunday
‘Resentment? Nothing, it was a misunderstanding. In my opinion, it’s easy to resolve. When will I resolve it? I don’t know. The game is over, and only afterwards will we know how things will turn out.
‘It’s not up to me. To reach an agreement with two people, both people need to talk and agree. That’s not up to me.
‘Just because it was him, and perhaps rightly so because he’s a symbol, this whole problem of him coming on, warming up, not coming on. How many players warmed up today and didn’t come on? Will there be a problem? No.
‘With Cris it’s different, he’s a symbol. But is it a problem? For me it wasn’t a problem. If Cris wants to and is playing for Al-Nassr, he’ll be in the next squad. We talked before this squad and we can talk before the next one. It’s Cris who will decide.’
Portugal needed a 79th-minute winner from AC Milan star Goncalo Ramos to complete their comeback victory in a match which saw Erling Haaland limp off for the opponents.
Despite winning all three of their recent games without Ronaldo, and the shocking nature of his behaviour, his team-mates have said afresh that they want him back.
Full-back Nuno Mendes told Sport TV after the game: ‘We’re a united group, and Cristiano, as well as anyone else who isn’t here, will always be welcomed with open arms.’
Joao Cancelo added: ‘As Bruno (Fernandes) already said, Cristiano is our captain, he is the symbol of our national team, he is the best player Portugal has ever had and things will certainly end in the best way.’
Portugal boss Jorge Jesus insists he will have Ronaldo back if the forward wants to return
Georgina Rodriguez leapt the the defence of Ronaldo after his controversial walkout
Fernandes had led the way in trying to recover the situation, with the Manchester United midfielder revealing recently that he had held clear-the-air talks with Ronaldo.
He said: ‘I had a conversation with Cris. What I told him is that the most important thing, regardless of what happens, is that he will never cease to be the greatest symbol of our national team and country, for everything he has done in Portugal and around the world.
‘He has a reserved place not only among the best of all time, but also in the hearts of the Portuguese people.
‘We cannot divide ourselves; the national team is one, and all parties should resolve their issues behind closed doors. I think that’s how it will be, and that everything will end well on both sides.
‘We are out of the matter; we spend a lot of time playing cards and are outside the controversy surrounding this issue, but I ask that the country not be divided, not make choices, and accept all sides.
‘Cris will always be the greatest icon of our national team, of world football, and deserves the respect of all Portuguese people, regardless of who likes him more or less.’
Ronaldo’s fiery withdrawal – months after a World Cup in which it was perceived that he held back Portugal – has been one of the dominant stories of the international break.
He confirmed in a statement on Instagram that he had left the team’s camp because of comments made by manager Jesus in a press conference.
After leaving camp, Ronaldo said: ‘I will tell the truth to all Portuguese people about the reasons that motivated my departure’
Bruno Fernandes (right) has held clear-the-air talks with Cristiano Ronaldo (left) after the latter stormed out of the Portugal camp
The feud started when Ronaldo was left on the bench for Portugal’s win over Norway – the first time in 18 years he had missed the full 90 minutes for the national side barring injuries and suspensions.
Ronaldo said: ‘After the national team coach’s press conference, and following a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team training camp.
‘In due time, I will tell all Portuguese people the truth about the reasons that led to my departure from the national team, to which I have always dedicated myself.
‘Now is the time to wish good luck to Portugal and to all my teammates.’
The tension seems to have boiled over following Jesus’ press conference. The manager said: ‘There was no incident whatsoever.
‘Any player – and I was a player myself – when you spend 20 or 30 minutes warming up and then don’t get on, no-one is happy about that.
‘Afterwards, as coach, I decided not to bring him on. It’s nothing to make a fuss about.’
The coach, who also managed Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, insists his conscience is clean.
Rodriguez and Ronaldo married in the summer after more than a decade together
‘It’s not difficult for me to focus,’ he added. ‘You know what’s difficult for me? It’s not understanding what’s going on inside. It’s not knowing how to train my players. That’s what’s difficult for me. The rest… zero.
‘What’s important is what we have to do. The things that happen don’t separate the group, they haven’t separated us and they won’t separate us.’
One iconic name to come out in support of Ronaldo is Zinedine Zidane, now the manager of France, who coached the forward at Real Madrid.
He said: ‘We really must pay tribute to his great career. I was lucky to have him with me. He helped me win a lot of titles.
‘Hats off to Cristiano! I always have a great deal of respect for those I’ve spent time with.’
Ronaldo’s wife Georgina Rodriguez swiftly leapt to the defence of her husband by posting a fake Sir Alex Ferguson quote, which she deleted.
Georgina Rodriguez, 32, wrote of Portugal manager Jesus: ‘I don’t know how this man can carry the name of Christ,’ and below her sniping comment was a fictitious quote from Ronaldo’s former boss and legendary Man United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
It read: ‘If Jorge Jesus knew in his heart that he had no intention of using him, then why did he call him up in the first place? To make a point? That’s not authority, that’s insecurity.’
Ferguson has not spoken about the Ronaldo row and the quote and imagery appeared to be AI generated.
Rodriguez quickly deleted what she’d shared on her Instagram story with 78million followers.
She is part of a blended family, raising five children with Ronaldo, two of whom are biologically hers.
