Portugal coach, Jorge Jesus, has said Cristiano Ronaldo’s status as a national icon was responsible for the controversy that followed the forward’s prolonged warm-up without being introduced during the Nations League clash with Norway.
Jesus, who spoke after Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway, said similar incidents involving other players usually attract little attention, but Ronaldo’s standing meant the situation was magnified.
According to football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano on X on Monday, Jesus said, “In my opinion, you can’t hold a one-year friendship against someone over a situation that is difficult to understand,” Jesus stated.
He added, “Just because it was him. Just because it was him, and perhaps rightly so, because he is a symbol, this whole issue of warming up and not warming up, coming on and not coming on, has been created.”
The coach further questioned why Ronaldo’s situation should be treated differently from those involving other players, saying, “How many players warmed up today and didn’t come on? How many? Is there going to be a problem with any of them? No.”
Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp last week after the victory over Norway, having spent a lengthy period warming up on the touchline without being brought into the game.
The 41-year-old had started Portugal’s previous match against Wales before he was substituted.
Jesus, who previously coached Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, has described the incident as a misunderstanding and suggested that it should not affect their relationship.
The Portuguese coach has also kept open the possibility of Ronaldo returning to the national team, insisting that the issue could be resolved if the captain decides to continue representing Portugal.
Jesus maintained that team requirements come first and that decisions regarding substitutions and playing time remain his responsibility.
