Jorge Jesus has confirmed he was blindsided by Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to retire from international football, stating he learned of the news only when the rest of the world did. The announcement came via an Instagram video on Thursday, a day before the Portugal manager was scheduled to name his squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures. Jesus emphasized that the 41-year-old forward had not provided any prior notice, leaving the coach with no opportunity to prepare for the historic moment.
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The revelation is particularly striking given Jesus’s recent relationship with Ronaldo, who served as his club coach at Al-Nassr last season. Despite their professional history, Jesus admitted that he was still planning to select the in-form striker for the national team. “Until then, I knew nothing about it,” Jesus told reporters at Friday’s news conference. He noted that Ronaldo had been performing well, scoring goals and maintaining high standards, which kept him firmly on the manager’s initial squad list.
This unexpected development shifts the immediate focus for Portugal’s coaching staff as they finalize their roster for this month’s matches. Jesus’s comments underscore the abrupt nature of the retirement, which was not driven by injury or poor form, but rather a personal choice made without consultation with the national setup. As the Seleção moves forward, the absence of their all-time top scorer will undoubtedly reshape tactical approaches and squad dynamics in the short term.
Source: BBC Sport
