Cristiano Ronaldo 'will not return to Portugal national team while Jorge Jesus remains in charge' - Portuguese journalist Rui Santos says

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By Linda Ikeji 6 October 2026, 10:32 am 0 comments

Superstar footballer Cristiano Ronaldo will not return to the Portuguese national team while manager Jorge Jesus remains in charge.

The dispute between Ronaldo and Jesus began last week when Jesus left 41-year-old Ronaldo on the bench for Portugal's first win over Norway,  the first time that has happened in 18 years on Portugal duty.

That led to him skipping three training sessions and abandoning the camp for Portugal's last two matches of the international break, jetting away via private jet. 

Portuguese journalist Rui Santos has now claimed that the superstar will not return while the manager remains in post.

'He reportedly vented that he will not return to the national team, at least while Jorge Jesus is in technical command,' Santos told CNN Portugal.

'He is not satisfied in the slightest with the handling of this entire process. He was particularly outraged by the content of the statements made by Jorge Jesus, the head coach.

'He has stopped believing and stopped trusting in contradictions between the expressed desire to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back, so he can still participate in the Nations League, but at the same time saying and fully emphasizing that "there are no apologies from anyone, I am not here to ask for apologies, I am the one who makes the squad selection" - and therefore an exercise of authority.

'The narrative was one of inclusion, of including Cristiano Ronaldo, not of exclusion [but it hasn't worked].'