Is Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal return possible? Head coach Jorge Jesus clarifies the 41-year-old’s future

Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly left Portugal after Jesus allegedly broke promises regarding his Norway warm-up, with a private apology replaced by public defiance/ Picture: X Portugal coach Jorge Jesus has left the door open for Cristiano Ronaldo to return to the national team after the 41-year-old captain left the squad last week. Ronaldo left after being left on the bench against Norway and said he would not start against Denmark, later saying he would explain his decision “in due course”.“If he wants, he will return to the national team. We can talk before the next challenge, but Cris is the one to decide,” Jesus said after Portugal beat Norway 2-1.“It is he who should decide how he wants to end his time with the national team. In my first call I said: ‘I need you, I need you to be close to me, whether you play or not, I need you’. And now I say the same thing.”Portugal won without Ronaldo against Denmark before beating Norway to reach the quarter-finals of the Nations League. Ronaldo remains the country’s record goalscorer and most played player with 146 goals in 234 games.

Portugal is still counting on Ronaldo

Portuguese FA president Pedro Proenca also said Ronaldo remains part of the team’s plans, describing his departure as a misunderstanding that should be dealt with internally.“He is in the national team by sporting merit and that must be indisputable,” Proenca told RTP. “We have to pay tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo.Jesus, who previously coached Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, expects the striker could return during the next international break if he so chooses. Portugal host Denmark on November 14 and travel to Wales three days later.