Jorge Jesus Hails Cristiano Ronaldo as Portugal’s “Flag,” Praises Saudi League’s Rise
Oeiras, Portugal – In a candid discussion at the Portugal Football Summit, veteran coach Jorge Jesus, currently managing Cristiano ronaldo at Saudi club Al Nassr, offered a glowing endorsement of his superstar pupil, labeling him the undisputed “flag of Portugal” and highlighting his amazing physical prowess at 40 years old.
Jesus, a prominent figure in Portuguese football, spoke passionately during the summit’s final panel, emphasizing Ronaldo’s global impact and his continued elite performance. Nobody has any idea what this man is in the world,
Jesus stated, reflecting on his own initial surprise. I didn’t have it either and now I do. It’s incredible, he is the flag of Portugal, I have there’s no doubt whatsoever.
The coach painted a vivid picture of Ronaldo’s enduring popularity, noting the massive crowds that gather wherever he goes. Wherever we are, in any country where he is, people don’t leave there, the hotel, and there are not 10 or 20, there are hundreds of people, just for him to pass by and to see him,
Jesus elaborated.
Beyond his celebrity status,Jesus underscored Ronaldo’s remarkable physical condition,a testament to his dedication and professionalism. ‘Cris’ is 40 years old today and, just so you can see, he is my player who in games, not just in training, is the second fastest player on the team, at 40 years old, and is the third player who makes the most ‘spikes’, over 25 km/hour,
Jesus revealed. So, remember that it is something out of the ordinary, even physically. Then, as a person, from football to outside, he is a very intelligent man, it’s not just about knowing how to play football, he knows much more besides football.
Jesus also addressed the growing influence of the Saudi Pro League, attributing its meaningful boost in global recognition to the arrival of top-tier talent like Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and neymar. The Saudi championship is where a large portion of the best players in the world are, it has to do with the great stars who were there and are now there, because of Cris [Cristiano Ronaldo], Benzema or Neymar. These are the three players who gave a very big projection to the Saudi championship,
he explained.
This influx of talent, Jesus believes, makes his own coaching achievements in the league even more remarkable. He recalled his record of 34 consecutive victories while managing Al Hilal, a rival of Al Nassr. My 34 victories were in the Saudi championship, they were not in the Luxembourg championship,
he emphasized.In the Saudi championship and beyond, also in the ‘Champions’ of Asia, where [o registo] it was broken, in the semi-final game I lost 4-2 and that’s when it broke. That year, Al Hilal won everything.
While expressing a desire to eventually return to coaching in Portugal, Jesus conveyed his current contentment in riyadh. He drew a parallel to the legendary Portuguese fado singer Amália Rodrigues, stating, I feel good and I’m like Amália [Rodrigues] who once said he would sing until his voice hurt; I’m going to train until my body hurts too.
The Portugal Football Summit, organized by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), commenced on Wednesday and concludes on saturday, bringing together key figures from the football world to discuss the sport’s evolution.
