Jorge Jesus says he will address his recent dispute with Cristiano Ronaldo after Portugal’s next Nations League fixture, insisting he will not “hide or run away” from the controversy.
Portugal visit Denmark at Parken in Copenhagen on Wednesday in the third round of their Nations League group matches. The game comes after Ronaldo left the Portugal camp permanently following a disagreement with Jesus.
Asked about the incident shortly before kick-off, Jesus said: “I will explain everything after the last game.”
The Portugal manager was referring to Sunday’s meeting with Norway, which will be played on home soil in the fourth round of the group stage.
Jesus, whose comments were reported by Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano on X, added: “I have many years in football and I know that I did nothing that should have caused things to go differently.”
He continued: “After the Norway game, we will talk about this subject. I will not hide or run away from it. No one can take away what Cristiano represents. He is a symbol, and that is beyond doubt.”
Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp on Wednesday and returned to Madrid after the dispute with Jesus, which followed his omission from the team for the previous match against Norway in the second round of the Nations League.
The forward’s decision came only hours after Jesus said he had final authority over team selection. The manager also acknowledged that he had failed to keep a promise to Ronaldo to give him playing time during the Norway fixture.
Jesus’s latest comments indicate that the disagreement will remain unresolved publicly until after Portugal have completed their match against Norway on Sunday.
Portugal begin the Denmark game at the top of Group D with six points. Denmark are third on three points, level with Norway but behind them on goal difference.