Pedro Proença, the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, made statements regarding the tense situation facing the national team due to star Cristiano Ronaldo, who left the international camp days ago.
Portugal secured a victory yesterday against Norway with two goals to one, in the fourth round of the UEFA Nations League group stage, qualifying for the quarter-finals.
This qualification came despite the crisis triggered by Cristiano Ronaldo last Wednesday when he left Portugal's camp due to being benched against Norway in the second round, along with coach Jorge Jesus's comments about him before the Denmark match.
Proença said, in statements published by the Portuguese newspaper "O Jogo": "I will not go into the details of what happened; it was just normal and natural discussions between the player and the coach. I won't dwell on that, but we are talking about the greatest player in history, a player who has dedicated more than two decades to Portuguese football. He embodies the essence of our identity; he deserves all our respect and appreciation."
Read also.. Jesus: I told Ronaldo his career won't end in tears.. and I won't apologize to anyone
He added: "Ronaldo's presence in the Portugal national team is based purely on his sporting merit; there is no dispute about that. He will always be part of the squad as long as he has the necessary fitness to play. He knows that this is the prevailing sentiment."
He continued: "Regarding this specific matter, it is merely a misunderstanding that needs internal resolution. The players showed yesterday the depth of the close bond they share with Ronaldo. He was the captain in our first match during the current break period, and the coach confirmed that he relies on him provided he is physically fit, like any other player."
He stated: "Ronaldo is a Portuguese icon and an exceptional player. He could have retired from international duty after the World Cup but chose not to do so. Matters like these are resolved when the three involved parties—the federation, the coach, and the players—participate in the resolution process."
Asked whether this represents a bad precedent regarding Ronaldo, and whether the Portuguese Federation lacks rules, he replied: "No, such dynamics occur in any work group. The federation handles situations calmly and through internal channels."
He emphasized: "There is a very strong relationship between Jesus and Ronaldo, fortunately. Without it, the latter would have already retired internationally. He did not do so thanks to the relationship and mutual respect between them."
He concluded: "The coming days will be an opportunity for calm reflection and discussion. Our goal is for everyone to be present with the national team in November during the international break."
