Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus denied any involvement in Cristiano Ronaldo's decision to retire from international football when announcing his squad for the matches against Denmark and Wales.
Cristiano Ronaldo officially announced his international retirement, sending shockwaves through the football world. The 39-year-old Portuguese star brought an end to an exceptional international career spanning over two decades. This unexpected decision left Portuguese supporters in mourning and football observers worldwide speculating about the underlying reasons.
Just hours after this bombshell announcement, national team coach Jorge Jesus presented the squad list for the upcoming Nations League fixtures. Facing Denmark and Wales, the reigning European champions will now have to cope without their most-capped player of all time. During the press conference, the Portuguese coach was directly questioned about the circumstances of this departure.
"It's not because of me," Jesus responded firmly, refusing to shoulder the responsibility for this historic decision. The coach sought to clarify his position, emphasizing that Ronaldo's choice was entirely down to the player's own volition. This clarification comes amid rumors of a possible disagreement between the selector and the living legend of Portuguese football.
With 212 caps and 132 goals for the national team, Ronaldo leaves an immense void. Jesus must now build a new team without his iconic player as Portugal begins a new chapter in its footballing history.
Just hours after this bombshell announcement, national team coach Jorge Jesus presented the squad list for the upcoming Nations League fixtures. Facing Denmark and Wales, the reigning European champions will now have to cope without their most-capped player of all time. During the press conference, the Portuguese coach was directly questioned about the circumstances of this departure.
"It's not because of me," Jesus responded firmly, refusing to shoulder the responsibility for this historic decision. The coach sought to clarify his position, emphasizing that Ronaldo's choice was entirely down to the player's own volition. This clarification comes amid rumors of a possible disagreement between the selector and the living legend of Portuguese football.
With 212 caps and 132 goals for the national team, Ronaldo leaves an immense void. Jesus must now build a new team without his iconic player as Portugal begins a new chapter in its footballing history.
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Source: Ouest-France