Jesus: Ronaldo Can Return

Portugal national team manager Jorge Jesus said that the return of veteran star Cristiano Ronaldo to the “Seleção” is in the hands of Al-Nassr’s Saudi striker, as reported on Sunday following Portugal’s qualification for the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory over Norway.

Jesus said after Portugal’s fourth consecutive win in Group 4 of the top tier of the continental competition, preserving their perfect record in the tournament bearing their name, that Ronaldo could return to the squad “if he wants to.”

The dispute began when Jesus kept the 41-year-old all-time top scorer on the bench during Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway in Oslo last Sunday.

Ronaldo decided on Wednesday to leave the national team camp after learning he would not start against Denmark, a match that also ended in a 4-2 victory for his country.

Jesus told journalists, “For me, if Chris, in the next call-up, plays for Al-Nassr, he will be a player who can be called up. If he wants to, he will return to the national team.”

He added that he is ready to speak with Ronaldo if the latter wishes to do so before Portugal’s final two group-stage matches of the continental competition in November.

He continued, “If he wants to, as we did before this call-up, we spoke before the call-up, and we can speak before the next one. But Chris is the one who will decide.”

He added, “Cristiano must end his national team career in the way he wants; it is up to him to decide how he wants it to be. That’s how we spoke. I told him: I need you.”