Portugal had already begun planning for life after Cristiano Ronaldo, report says

Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest dispute with Portugal was not the starting point of uncertainty over his international future, with plans for a post-Ronaldo era already being considered before Jorge Jesus became manager, according to Spanish newspaper AS.

The Portuguese Football Federation had reportedly expected Ronaldo to end his international career after the World Cup. That belief led officials to begin considering how the team would be rebuilt without its long-serving captain and how his eventual replacement would be managed.

Ronaldo, however, surprised those within the national set-up by continuing to play for Portugal. The 41-year-old therefore remained central to a team that had already begun preparing for his departure.

AS also reported that some of the candidates approached by the federation to replace former manager Roberto Martinez made Ronaldo’s absence a condition of accepting the job. According to the report, the federation welcomed that possibility, indicating that officials were prepared to move into a new phase without their captain.

The arrival of Jorge Jesus brought those underlying plans into direct focus. He was not dealing with an ordinary squad player, but with a 41-year-old captain who has a historic status and exceptional influence within the national team.

At the same time, the report said it had become necessary to define Ronaldo’s role according to the team’s needs, rather than solely on the basis of his achievements throughout his career.

The dispute came to a head when Ronaldo was left on the substitutes’ bench against Norway. He subsequently left Portugal’s training camp in Copenhagen following his disagreement with Jesus.

After his departure, Ronaldo said he had made his decision after the manager’s news conference and a conversation with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca.

The Portugal captain did not explain the full reasons for leaving the camp, but said he would reveal them “at the right time”. The statement added to questions over his position under Jesus, although the report makes clear that the federation had been considering a future without Ronaldo before the current disagreement emerged.

The latest episode has therefore brought to the surface an issue that had already featured in Portugal’s plans: how and when to move beyond the era of their most influential player.