Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has addressed the ongoing discussion around Cristiano Ronaldo, making it clear that the captain remains a key figure for the national team and the country.
The former Al Nassr manager was speaking ahead of Portugal’s game. Jesus said he couldn’t ignore the topic of Ronaldo, stressing the legendary forward’s significance to Portuguese football.
“I can’t ignore the Cristiano Ronaldo topic. Cris is a symbol of the Portuguese national team. He is a symbol of Portugal. Let that be absolutely clear.”
Jesus, however, declined to go into further detail before the match. He indicated that there would be an opportunity to address the subject more fully after the game.
“After the game, answering the question, there will be plenty of time to talk about that.”
The statement underlines Ronaldo’s enduring status within the Portugal setup, despite the questions and discussions surrounding his role. The comments are likely to keep attention firmly on Ronaldo and his future with the Portuguese national team as supporters await further clarification from Jesus.
Ronaldo was out of the game against Denmark, but that did not stop an emphatic 4-2 win for Portugal.