Jesus refuses to apologise as Ronaldo handed conditional Portugal recall offer

Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has refused to apologise over his treatment of Cristiano Ronaldo during the latest international break, telling reporters ‘I don’t apologise to anyone’ in a tense press conference exchange, while leaving the door open for Ronaldo’s return to the national squad.

The row erupted after Ronaldo was an unused substitute in Portugal’s clash with Norway — the first time in 18 years he had not featured — before leaving the training camp ahead of the Denmark fixture. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner departed on a private jet after reportedly refusing to train, and later posted a statement on social media promising to reveal ‘the truth’ about his departure following a conversation with the Portuguese Football Federation.

Jesus had reportedly intended to bring Ronaldo on for the final 30 minutes against Norway, with AC Milan forward Gonçalo Ramos starting up front. The former Benfica manager changed his mind and introduced Francisco Trincão instead, a decision that triggered the fallout.

When a reporter asked at a press conference whether Jesus had apologised to Ronaldo, the Portugal boss pushed back sharply. ‘I don’t apologise to anyone,’ he said, questioning what he would even have to apologise for.

Despite the acrimony, Jesus appeared to extend an olive branch on the question of Ronaldo’s international future. ‘Cristiano Ronaldo will be called up for the next international break, if he wants to return,’ he said. ‘It’s his decision. I am ready to call him if he will play with Al-Nassr.’

Jesus also sought to contextualise the episode, suggesting the scale of the reaction was driven by Ronaldo’s status rather than the incident itself. ‘In my opinion, you can’t hold a one-year friendship against someone over a situation that is difficult to understand,’ he said. ‘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. 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’s social media statement last week stopped short of explaining his reasons for leaving, saying only that he would address the Portuguese public ‘in due time’. The Al-Nassr forward, who turns 40 this year and won his record international caps across spells at Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, remains Portugal’s all-time leading scorer but his role under Jesus has clearly become a source of friction.

Whether Ronaldo chooses to accept the conditional recall remains to be seen. Jesus has made clear the invitation exists — but that the next move belongs to the player.