Jorge Jesus set to apologise to Cristiano Ronaldo after Portugal dispute

Jorge Jesus is reportedly considering a public apology to Cristiano Ronaldo after his comments about the Portugal captain intensified a dispute within the national team.

The Portugal manager made the remarks at a news conference on Wednesday, before the Nations League meeting with Denmark. Ronaldo had not played in Portugal’s victory over Norway in the second round of the group stage, and the decision led to tensions between the player and his manager.

Ronaldo was angered by the situation and did not train for two consecutive days. The disagreement escalated after Jesus addressed reports that he had promised Ronaldo a starting place against Norway before changing his mind.

“I can promise whatever I want. I am the coach,” Jesus said. “I told the player he would not start the match and would be on the bench. If I needed him for 30 minutes, he would play. If I did not need him, he would not play.”

He added: “No player will change my thinking – neither him nor anybody else in football. Not even a president. That will never happen.”

The comments were followed by Ronaldo’s departure from the Portugal camp. The captain left without saying goodbye to his team-mates and posted a statement on social media in which he appeared to suggest he could end his international career.

“Following the national team manager’s news conference, and after a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I decided to leave the national team camp,” Ronaldo said.

“At the appropriate time, I will tell all Portuguese people the truth about the reasons that led me to leave the national team, to which I have always devoted myself.”

He concluded: “Now is the right time to wish Portugal and all my team-mates, without exception, the best of luck.”

Apology planned after Denmark match

Portuguese journalist Pedro Sepulveda has since reported that Jesus will apologise to Ronaldo publicly after Portugal’s match against Denmark on Wednesday evening.

“Jesus will apologise to Ronaldo in public after tonight’s game against Denmark. Will it be enough to bring the captain back?” Sepulveda wrote on X on 1 October 2026.

The reported apology could provide a route towards ending the dispute, although it remains unclear whether it would persuade Ronaldo to return to the Portugal squad.

Jesus’s comments about his authority as manager came after Ronaldo’s omission from the Norway match and the subsequent breakdown in relations between the pair. The captain’s decision to leave camp, combined with his reference to explaining his reasons “at the appropriate time”, has left his international future uncertain.