LISBOA, Portugal (AP) — Portugal wants Cristiano Ronaldo to know he's welcome back to the national team, if he so desires.
Portugal coach Jorge Jesus and federation president Pedro Proença have downplayed the “misunderstanding” that led to Ronaldo’s decision to leave the national team's training camp last week, saying after a 2-1 win over Norway in the Nations League on Sunday that the veteran star can return whenever he wants.
“We are talking about the greatest player of all time, a player who has given more than two decades to Portuguese soccer,” Proença told Portuguese television channel RTP. "He will always be part of this squad if he is technically fit to play. Cristiano knows this. He knows that is the sentiment. What happened was a misunderstanding that needs to be resolved internally.”
The 41-year-old Ronaldo walked out on Portugal’s training camp on Wednesday, hours after Jesus said the veteran star would not start in a game against Denmark in the Nations League. Jesus had kept Ronaldo on the bench in a previous match despite saying he would play.
Ronaldo said after leaving that in due course he would “tell the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons” behind his departure, but has not commented on the situation since.
Jesus said Sunday he had no reason to apologize to anyone, and that he would call up Ronaldo again for the next international break if the player wants to come back.
“I don’t know what Cris will decide,” Jesus said after Portugal’s win. “To me, there was never an issue. There are non-negotiable principles for a coach, but since there were no issues regarding my authority, for me, if Cris wants to return, he will be eligible for the next call-up, as long as he is playing for Al Nassr. It's up to him.”
Proença said there will be time for everyone to sit down and discuss the situation.
“Ronaldo is a symbol of our country. He is a Portuguese icon, an absolutely extraordinary player who could have ended his international career after the World Cup but chose not to out of love for the national team,” Proença said.
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