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Portugal coach Jorge Jesus said that Cristiano Ronaldo can return to the national team if he wishes, leaving the door open for the 41-year-old captain after his sudden departure from the team last week.
Ronaldo left the Portugal camp after being benched without playing in the win over Norway, learning that he would not start against Denmark. He later explained via social media that he would explain the reasons for his departure from the national team 'at the right time'.
Jesus told reporters after Portugal's 2-1 win over Norway on Sunday in the UEFA Nations League, 'If he wants to, he will return to the national team. We can talk before the next camp, but it is Chris who will decide'.
'He is the one who must decide how he wants to end his career with the national team. In my first camp, I told him 'I need you, I need you to be close to me whether you play or not, I need you'. Now I say the same thing'.
The reigning champions, Portugal, won 4-2 in Denmark without Ronaldo, then beat Norway on Sunday to maintain their perfect record in Group 4 of Level 1 and secure a place in the round of 16 of the Nations League.
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, scored 146 goals in 234 international matches, becoming the team's all-time leading scorer and the most capped player.
Pedro Proenca, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, also said that Ronaldo remains part of the team's plans, describing the incident as a misunderstanding that must be resolved internally.
Proenca told Portuguese television, 'He is in the national team because of his sporting merit, and this is indisputable. We must applaud Cristiano Ronaldo'.
Jesus, who also coached Ronaldo at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, expects the striker to be ready to participate in the next international break if he wishes to return.
Portugal will host Denmark on November 14 before visiting Wales three days later.
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