Writers 
Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença has sought to calm the growing tension surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo and national team head coach Jorge Jesus, insisting that the situation will be handled internally and expressing hope that the Portugal captain will return to the squad in November.
The controversy emerged after Ronaldo unexpectedly left Portugal’s training camp ahead of the team’s Nations League fixture against Denmark. The 41-year-old forward subsequently said he would reveal his reasons for leaving the national team “in due course,” creating uncertainty about his international future.
However, Proença has moved to reassure supporters that the situation does not represent a permanent breakdown between the legendary forward and the national team. Speaking after Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway, the FPF president described the matter as something that should be resolved calmly within the federation.
“FPF resolves situations internally,” Proença said, stressing that the federation does not intend to turn an internal disagreement into a public dispute. He also emphasized the strong personal and professional relationship between Ronaldo and Jesus.
According to Proença, that relationship remains an important reason to believe the current disagreement can be overcome. He suggested that if the bond between the two men were not so strong, Ronaldo might already have made a more definitive decision about his international career.
The federation president also made it clear that Ronaldo remains an important part of Portugal’s plans. He described the five-time Ballon d’Or winner as a player whose place in the national team is based on sporting merit, rather than reputation alone.
Ronaldo’s importance to Portugal is difficult to question. He is the country’s record goalscorer and most-capped player, with 146 international goals in 234 appearances. He has also played a central role in Portugal’s major successes, including their Euro 2016 triumph and Nations League victories.
The latest disagreement followed a difficult sequence of events during the international break. Ronaldo was an unused substitute against Norway despite warming up for a significant period and later left the camp after learning that he would not start against Denmark. Portugal subsequently won 4-2 against Denmark and followed that result with a 2-1 victory over Norway.
Despite Ronaldo’s absence, Portugal have continued their strong start under Jesus and secured their place in the Nations League quarter-finals. Nevertheless, the federation appears determined to prevent the dispute from damaging the relationship between the coach and the country’s most recognizable football figure.
Jesus has also left the door open for Ronaldo’s return, saying that the decision ultimately belongs to the player. The Portugal coach has previously worked with Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, giving the pair an existing relationship that could help efforts to settle the disagreement.
Proença said the coming days should provide an opportunity for calm conversations and discussions rather than further public confrontation. His priority appears to be restoring unity before Portugal return to international action in November.
Portugal are scheduled to face Denmark on November 14 before travelling to play Wales three days later. The federation will therefore have limited time to resolve the matter if Ronaldo is to return for those fixtures.
For Portugal supporters, the hope is that the latest episode will ultimately prove to be a temporary disagreement rather than the beginning of the end of Ronaldo’s international career. At 41, the legendary forward is approaching the final stages of his career, making every international appearance increasingly significant.
Proença’s message is therefore clear: the federation does not want the disagreement to define Ronaldo’s relationship with Portugal. Instead, the FPF wants dialogue, calm and reconciliation to take place away from the spotlight, with the ultimate goal of seeing the captain back with his teammates when the national team reconvenes in November.
With Ronaldo still eager to represent Portugal and the federation publicly backing his continued involvement, the coming weeks could determine whether the latest dispute becomes a forgotten chapter or a major turning point in one of the greatest international careers in football history.
