Cristiano Ronaldo set for Portugal return after Nations League recall

Cristiano Ronaldo has moved closer to a return to the Portugal squad after the Portuguese Football Federation formally requested his release from Al-Nassr for November’s Nations League fixtures.

Portugal manager Jorge Jesus has included Ronaldo and team-mate Joao Felix in the request ahead of matches against Denmark and Wales, according to Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah.

The federation’s letter to Al-Nassr is intended to secure the pair’s attendance at Portugal’s next training camp, strengthening the possibility that Ronaldo will resume international duty after September’s controversy.

Portugal will host Denmark in Braga on 14 November before travelling to face Wales three days later. The matches are the final fixtures in Group D of the Nations League.

Ronaldo’s return is also made possible by the expiry of a 30-day suspension imposed by the Portuguese Football Federation last week. The punishment was applied retrospectively from 30 September, when the incident occurred, meaning it will have been completed before the November international break begins.

The disciplinary matter has therefore been settled, leaving the focus on whether Ronaldo’s relationship with the coaching staff has also recovered and whether the 41-year-old can move beyond the disagreement that raised questions over his future with Portugal.

In a lengthy statement published on 7 October, Ronaldo apologised to Portugal supporters and his team-mates for his conduct as he sought to limit the impact of the dispute. He also said his relationship with Jorge Jesus had ended, adding further uncertainty to a situation already clouded by disagreements over his role and involvement with the national team.

The dispute began over Ronaldo’s position for Portugal’s match against Norway, which Portugal won 2-1. According to details of the incident, the Al-Nassr captain accused his manager of backing away from a promise to leave him on the substitutes’ bench.

Ronaldo also reportedly objected to the failure to follow an agreed approach for managing their disagreement during a news conference before the match against Denmark, which Portugal won 4-2.

The disagreement escalated after Ronaldo unexpectedly left Portugal’s camp in Copenhagen following the news conference. His departure caused widespread debate in Portuguese football and prompted fresh questions about his relationship with the coaching staff, as well as whether he would remain part of the team’s plans for future international matches.

The formal request sent to Al-Nassr now appears to have cleared the practical obstacle to Ronaldo joining Portugal in November. Whether his selection marks a full resolution of the dispute, however, remains uncertain.