Portugal take Cristiano Ronaldo decision after crisis talks

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Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Cristiano Ronaldo’s international future has been resolved after the Portugal attacker seethed on the bench during his country’s 2-1 Nations League victory over Norway on Sunday.

Ronaldo was angry about being benched by new head coach Jorge Jesus, having rarely found himself on the bench during his illustrious career.

He raced to the locker room after the game and returned to the team hotel alone, forcing Jesus to defend his decision in the media.

“I didn’t realise,” the coach said. “Only he can answer that. What’s certain is that just because he didn’t come on doesn’t mean I’m not counting on him.

“In fact, before the match, I told him: ‘I’m not going to start you, but I’m going to bring you on as a substitute.’

“That’s football: it dictates things that, in this specific case, didn’t justify changing strikers, knowing that we now have a match in Denmark and he could be the first choice against Denmark.”

On Tuesday, Ronaldo did not train with the team and refused to work in the gym, according to A Bola. He then left to head back to the hotel.

Ronaldo crisis talks ease Portugal tension

Consequently, Ronaldo and the coach held an emergency meeting, the outcome of which has been revealed in the Portuguese sports media.

It appears to have been a positive outcome, with A Bola reporting: “According to information gathered by our newspaper, the conversation between the national coach and the team captain went well and left a positive impression, likely to ease the tensions that have existed since the match against Norway.”

O Jogo added: “The conversation between the national coach and the captain went well, dispelling the tense atmosphere that had prevailed since the match against Norway.”

No sanctions against Ronaldo are planned, with the striker set to travel with Portugal to Denmark for Thursday’s clash in Copenhagen.

Futebol, meanwhile, is not convinced the feud between Ronaldo and Jesus is over:

“Jorge Jesus and Cristiano Ronaldo spoke again on Tuesday evening at the hotel in Malmö, and the atmosphere surrounding their relationship has considerably calmed down. According to information gathered by Futebol, this latest face-to-face conversation – the second in a long series – helped to ease tensions. At this stage, some claim that the feud has subsided, while others believe it would be an exaggeration to say that it is over.”

Ronaldo is, therefore, likely to start against Denmark, but the Al-Nassr striker will find himself under renewed pressure after Goncalo Ramos, his replacement in the starting XI, netted the winning goal against Norway.