Jorge Jesus claims no guilt in Cristiano Ronaldo's international retirement

Jorge Jesus dismissed any responsibility for Cristiano Ronaldo’s international retirement, officially announced on Thursday. The 72-year-old Portuguese manager spoke at a press conference on Friday, ahead of a new Ligue des Nations gathering.

“Perhaps I hastened things, but it is not my doing. I feel no guilt whatsoever regarding his departure,” he declared. A direct statement that closes — at least from the staff’s perspective — the chapter on a separation that has stirred Portuguese football.

Jesus also downplayed the timing chosen by Ronaldo to bow out internationally. “If it had not been during this gathering, he could have made this decision at another time, if he had deemed it appropriate. It could have happened at any stage of this Ligue des Nations,” he added. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner thus ends his career at 234 caps, without a 235th appearance in the Algarve colours.

The first squad list of the post-Ronaldo era is now known. In defence, Jorge Jesus called up Diogo Dalot, Alberto Costa, Rúben Dias, Tomás Araújo, Renato Veiga, António Silva, João Cancelo and Nuno Tavares. Midfield comprises Bruno Fernandes, João Palhinha, João Neves, Rúben Neves, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva and Mateus Fernandes. In attack, Pedro Neto, Francisco Trincão, Carlos Forbs, Rafael Leão, Geovany Quenda, João Félix, Rodrigo Mora, Fábio Silva, Gonçalo Ramos and Gustavo Varela were selected.

Portugal will host Denmark on Saturday, November 14 for the fifth matchday of the Ligue des Nations, before travelling to Wales three days later.