Joao Cancelo says Cristiano Ronaldo remains Portugal’s captain and “the best player Portugal has ever produced” as discussions continue over whether the forward will return to the national team.
Portugal reached the Nations League quarter-finals after coming from behind to beat Norway 2-1, extending their run to four victories. Cancelo scored a spectacular equaliser in the 38th minute before Goncalo Ramos completed the comeback with the winning goal in the 79th minute.
Asked about the possibility of Ronaldo returning amid the recent issue involving head coach Jorge Jesus, Cancelo said the matter would be discussed by the manager and Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca.
“The coach and Mr Pedro Proenca will talk about this,” Cancelo told Record. “But, as Bruno Fernandes has already said, Cristiano is our captain and a symbol of our national team. He is the best player Portugal has ever produced, and I am sure things will end in the best possible way.”
Cancelo, who was pleased with both Portugal’s performance and his own goal, added: “The most important thing here is these four wins. I think we all performed really well, including him. Now it is time to enjoy this, and we will be back here again in November.”
Speaking to RTP, the Barcelona player also revealed that he had spoken to Ronaldo privately, although he did not give details of their conversation.
Cancelo’s goal came after a powerful throw-in from Nuno Mendes. The ball bounced in front of him and he struck it first time with a fierce finish.
“I was in a good position, and Nuno Mendes has a very strong throw-in,” Cancelo said. “When I saw the ball touch the ground for the first time, it was almost an instinctive reaction. I shot and, thankfully, I connected well with it. I scored a great goal.”
He added: “Almost all my goals for the national team are beautiful. I do not remember all of them, but this is probably one of the best. I cannot say it is the best because I do not remember the other goals.”
Asked whether the four wins represented the start of a new era for Portugal, Cancelo said the team had benefited from adapting quickly to the new manager’s ideas, as well as from an element of luck.
“Alongside understanding the new coach’s ideas quickly, I think you also need a little luck,” he said. “Luck is something you have to work towards.”
Cancelo said the squad had made effective use of a demanding period in camp.
“All my team-mates here, whether they played more or less, managed in the few training sessions we hadI think it was four matches in 11 or 12 daysto understand the ideas well and put them into practice on the pitch,” he said. “I think we were the better team again today and deserved to win.”