Jorge Jesus opens door to Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal return: 'Everything is open'
Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has opened the door to Cristiano Ronaldo's return to the national team, declaring "everything is open" after Sunday's 2-1 win over Norway.
The victory came with the captain on the outside, days after Ronaldo walked out of Portugal's training camp in Copenhagen. He left following a Jesus press conference and a conversation with Pedro Proença, the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, saying at the time he would explain his reasons to the Portuguese people later.
On Sunday, the coach sounded ready to move past the standoff. Speaking to Portuguese TV after the match, he said: "I don't know what will happen. As far as I'm concerned, everything is open."
Pushed directly on whether he would call Ronaldo up again, Jesus placed the decision in the captain's hands.
"Cris has to decide what he wants to do. I'm not the one who decides that. If he is playing and wants to be involved, why not? But it doesn't depend on me."
The offer, as Jesus framed it, is conditional: Ronaldo must still be playing actively and must want the selection. There was no ultimatum and no deadline in the coach's words — just an open invitation.
Jesus also played down the dispute that led Ronaldo to leave the camp before the match against Denmark. "It was a misunderstanding. In my opinion, it is easy to resolve," he said.
Ronaldo's call
The comments are a clear conciliatory gesture from the legendary coach after days of enormous tension around the national team. Jesus made clear that Ronaldo's willingness to be involved will be decisive before the next squad is announced.
He stopped short of guaranteeing a recall, but his comments leave the door open for Ronaldo to return.
