Cristiano Ronaldo can return to Portugal’s national team if he wishes, coach Jorge Jesus said after the holders reached the Nations League quarter-finals despite the captain’s abrupt departure from camp.
Ronaldo, 41, left after being an unused substitute in Portugal’s victory over Norway and learning he would not start against Denmark. He later wrote on social media that he would explain his decision “in due course”.
“If he wants to, he’ll return to the national team. We can talk before the next call-up, but Cris is the one who’s going to decide,” Jesus said after Sunday’s 2-1 win against Norway.
“He’s the one who should decide how he wants to end his time with the national team. In my first call-up, I said, ‘I need you, I need you to be close to me, playing or not playing, I need you’. And now I’m saying the same thing.”
Portugal had already won 4-2 in Denmark without Ronaldo and followed that result by maintaining a perfect record in Group A4. Goncalo Ramos scored 11 minutes from time against Norway to secure a top-two finish and move Portugal six points clear of second-placed Denmark, who beat Wales 1-0.
The victory in Porto came after Kristoffer Ajer put Norway ahead in the 36th minute with a dipping half-volley from the edge of the penalty area. Joao Cancelo equalised two minutes later with a powerful strike, before Ramos converted from his calf after Joao Felix headed the ball across goal.
“You need a lot of technical quality to beat Norway,” Jesus said.
“We won without putting in a performance like the one against Denmark, but the important thing was the victory and qualification. I had a lot of belief in this team, but perhaps I didn’t expect us to have four wins from our first four games.”
Portugal’s win was marred by Francisco Conceicao’s dismissal four minutes from the end. He received a yellow card, responded with a sarcastic thumbs-up to the referee and was immediately shown a red card.
Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca also said Ronaldo remained central to the team’s plans, calling the dispute a misunderstanding to be settled internally.
“He is in the national team on sporting merit, and that must be unquestionable,” Proenca told RTP. “We have to pay tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo.”
Ronaldo is Portugal’s record scorer and most-capped player, with 146 goals in 234 appearances. Jesus, who also managed him at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, expects him to be available during the next Fifa international window if he chooses to return. Portugal’s next match is on November 14, followed by a visit to Wales three days later.
Elsewhere, Rasmus Hojlund’s 75th-minute penalty gave Denmark a 1-0 win in Cardiff after Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward had made several important saves.
The Netherlands beat Serbia 2-1 in Eindhoven to move top of Group A2 on goal difference from Greece, who drew 0-0 with Germany in Thessaloniki. Austria drew 1-1 with Kosovo but stayed three points clear in Group B3, while the Republic of Ireland and Israel drew 1-1 behind closed doors in Backa Topola.
In Group D2, Azerbaijan beat Lithuania 1-0 through Abdulakh Khaybulayev’s first-half goal. Malta defeated Andorra 1-0 in Group D1, with veteran Teddy Teuma coming on as a second-half substitute.
