Joao Cancelo backs Cristiano Ronaldo to return to Portugal squad

Joao Cancelo says Cristiano Ronaldo remains Portugal’s captain and greatest-ever player as debate continues over whether he will return to the national team.

The issue will be discussed by Portugal manager Jorge Jesus and Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca, but Cancelo made clear that he expects the situation to be resolved positively.

“Coach and Mr Pedro Proenca will talk about this,” Cancelo said, according to Record. “But, as Bruno Fernandes has already said, Cristiano is our captain, he is an icon of our national team and he is the best player Portugal has ever produced. I am sure things will end in the best possible way.”

Cancelo also revealed he had spoken privately with Ronaldo, although he did not disclose details of their conversation.

His comments came after Portugal recovered from falling behind to beat Norway 2-1 and secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Nations League. Cancelo scored Portugal’s equaliser in the 38th minute with a powerful strike, before Goncalo Ramos completed the comeback in the 79th minute.

“The most important thing here is these four wins,” Cancelo added. “I think we all performed very well, including him. Now it is time to enjoy it, and we will come back here again in November.”

Cancelo, speaking to RTP, also described the instinctive finish that brought Portugal back into the match.

“I was in a good position and Nuno Mendes has a very powerful throw-in,” he said. “When I saw the ball touch the ground for the first time, it was almost an instinctive reaction. I took the shot and, thankfully, I struck it well. I scored a great goal.”

He suggested the effort ranked among his best for Portugal, while stopping short of calling it his finest.

“Almost all of my goals for the national team have been beautiful,” he said. “I do not remember all of them, but perhaps this is one of the best. I cannot say it is the best because I do not remember the other goals.”

Asked whether the team’s four victories marked the beginning of a new era, Cancelo said the squad had adapted quickly to the new manager’s ideas, while also acknowledging the role of luck.

“As well as understanding the new coach’s concepts quickly, I think you also need a little luck,” he said. “Luck is something you have to work towards.”

He added that every player in the training camp, regardless of how much they had played, had helped implement those ideas during a demanding period.

“All my team-mates in this training camp, whether they played more or less, managed during the few sessions we had I think it was four matches in 11 or 12 days to understand the ideas well and put them into practice on the pitch,” he said.

“I think we were once again the better team today and deserved to win.”