Jorge Jesus Opens Door for Cristiano Ronaldo's Return to Portugal Squad
Portugal coach Jorge Jesus stated that the door is open for Cristiano Ronaldo to return to the national team, calling their recent rift a misunderstanding.
The controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal national team took a significant turn on Sunday night. Minutes after a 2-1 victory over Norway and securing a spot in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals, manager Jorge Jesus made it clear that the door remains open for the 41-year-old star, describing their rift as a "misunderstanding" that can be resolved.
"I do not know what will happen, for me everything is open," the Portugal coach said. "He needs to decide what he wants to do before the next call-up. If he plays and wants to be in the national team, he can return whenever he wants. Why not? It was a misunderstanding, and in my opinion, it is easy to solve. For me, everything is fine."
At the same time, reports in Portugal indicated that Ronaldo already knows Jesus intends to recall him to the squad for the upcoming November international window. The coach plans to call him up for the final two group stage matches of the Nations League against Denmark on November 14 in Braga and away against Wales three days later.
Senior Portugal players also addressed the potential return. Nuno Mendes said: "There is no doubt. We are a united team, and Cristiano, like any other player who is not here, will always be welcomed with open arms." Joao Cancelo was even more blunt: "Cristiano is our captain."
