“The Verband, the trainer, all teamkollegen are sich einig: Jeder will Cristiano zurück. I expect him already during the international pause in November,” Portuguese Football Federation President Pedro Proença told journalists in Porto on Saturday.
Just hours after domestic media reports indicated that Cristiano Ronaldo had been provisionally suspended following a dispute with the national team coaching staff, Portuguese federation leadership signaled a swift reconciliation. The developments unfold as Portugal navigates the aftermath of an international break marked by friction between the veteran forward and manager Jorge Jesus.
Dispute with Manager Jorge Jesus Triggers Camp Departure
The controversy began during the international window when Ronaldo departed the national team camp prematurely. According to coverage in publications including the Portuguese newspaper A Bola, the forward left the team quarters after he was not deployed in the starting lineup during a 2-1 Nations League opening victory against Norway. Following his exit, the multiple-time world player of the year publicly accused national team coach Jorge Jesus of breaking his word regarding playing time.
Internal Regulations and Disciplinary Proceedings
Internal federation regulations mandate an automatic provisional suspension for any player who leaves a team camp without authorization, prompting reports of an immediate sanction on Saturday afternoon. However, federation president Pedro Proença clarified that no definitive ruling has been issued by the disciplinary committee. Proença emphasized that the timeline for any formal punishment rests entirely with the independent disciplinary body tasked with reviewing the incident, rather than federation executives.
Ronaldo Expects Sanction Ahead of Expected November Return
Despite the brewing disciplinary review, Ronaldo indicated in a personal statement that he anticipated a sanction or suspension from the governing body. At the same time, the forward made clear that he intends to make himself available for selection once any disciplinary measures are served. Building on those remarks, Proença expressed public confidence that the all-time international scorer will return to the squad for upcoming fixtures.
On-Field Success Persists Amid Off-Field Turbulence
Even amid the turmoil surrounding its captain, the defending Nations League champion secured victories across all four matches during the two-week international period, clinching early qualification for the tournament quarterfinals. Ronaldo, who holds international records with 234 caps and 146 goals for Portugal across his distinguished career with clubs including Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Juventus, returned to club action by scoring for Al-Nassr.
