The major tension surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo already appears to be easing in Portugal. Very unhappy after remaining on the bench throughout the 2-1 win over Norway despite warming up, CR7 did not take part in Tuesday’s group training session. However, a lengthy discussion with Jorge Jesus later that evening reportedly helped calm the situation.
Portugal experienced their first real episode of tension since Jorge Jesus took charge. It began with the Nations League trip to Norway. Cristiano Ronaldo was not in the starting line-up and was initially expected to begin the match on the bench, but the coach reportedly told him that he could come on for the final half-hour. Ronaldo therefore started warming up in the second half, only to remain unused. Jesus later explained that he had changed his plans because of the way the match unfolded, with Gonçalo Ramos performing well and finding the net. “I had agreed with him that he would come on for the final half-hour, but the situation in the match did not require it,” the Portugal coach explained, stressing that the decision did not mean Ronaldo was no longer part of his plans.
Ronaldo and Jorge Jesus clear the air
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner nevertheless reportedly took the episode badly. At the final whistle, he went straight to the dressing room and did not join his teammates in celebrating with the Portuguese supporters. Questions intensified on Tuesday when Ronaldo, despite being present at the stadium in Malmö for training, did not work with the group. Instead, he returned to the team hotel to complete an indoor session.
The situation was serious enough for Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença to change his schedule. He had initially been due to travel to the Azores to attend the Under-21s’ match against Gibraltar, but instead headed to Scandinavia to personally follow developments. The tension, however, appears to have been quickly defused. On Tuesday evening, Jorge Jesus and Cristiano Ronaldo met at Portugal’s team hotel in Malmö for a clear-the-air conversation. According to Portuguese outlets including A Bola and O Jogo, the discussion “went well” and left both men with a positive impression. O Jogo even reported that “Cristiano Ronaldo’s sulk is over.”
Calm therefore appears to have returned to the Portugal camp, although Jorge Jesus’ next selection will be closely watched. The coach has already opened the door to starting his captain against Denmark on Thursday: “Maybe he will play against Denmark.” At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo remains a central figure in Portugal’s plans, but the episode also shows that Jesus intends to make his decisions according to the needs of the team. The next match should provide an indication of whether their discussion has definitively brought this first period of tension between the two men to an end.
