Sergio Conceicao refuses to take sides in Cristiano Ronaldo and Jorge Jesus dispute

Sergio Conceicao says the status of Cristiano Ronaldo and Jorge Jesus makes it impossible for him to support one side over the other in the disagreement involving the Portugal captain and the national team manager.

Ronaldo left Portugal’s squad angrily during the previous international break after being left out of the team that faced Norway.

“The disagreement between Jesus and Ronaldo? It is a sensitive matter in my country,” Conceicao told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is a legend and one of the best players in history, while Jesus is the national team coach and has a great deal of experience. It would therefore not be right for me to take one side against the other.”

Ronaldo was included in Jesus’ first squad for four Nations League matches. He started the opening game against Wales but remained on the bench for the entire match against Norway.

Jesus said after the Norway fixture that the circumstances of the game had meant Ronaldo did not play.

The Portuguese Football Federation president then held an urgent meeting with Ronaldo and Jesus, after which the captain left the training camp.

Rafael Leao wore the number seven shirt in Ronaldo’s absence in the following game against Denmark. Government intervention followed, but the dispute remained unresolved.

Portugal won all of their opening four matches and secured qualification for the quarter-finals before playing their final two games.

Conceicao open to Italy return

Conceicao, the former manager of Al-Ittihad, also said he would welcome the opportunity to return to coaching in Italy.

“Why not? I would certainly like that. In the past, I had several options before taking charge of Milan,” he said.

He previously worked in Italian football as Milan’s manager, having spent most of his coaching career in Portugal and elsewhere before moving to Saudi Arabia.

Conceicao was also asked for his view of the Serie A title race. He identified Inter as the best-prepared side and the club with the strongest depth.

“I think Inter are the most ready and have the greatest number of options. They have a squad capable of making the difference for years,” he said.