Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has issued an ultimatum, saying he will not return to the national team while Jorge Jesus is the coach, sources have told ESPN.
Sources said Ronaldo is upset that Jesus did not offer a previously agreed-upon public apology during Jesus’ most recent news conference.
Portugal boss Jorge Jesus said after Sunday’s 2-1 home win over Norway in Nations League that the door was open for Ronaldo to resume his international career.
“If he wants to, he’ll return to the national team,” Jesus told a news conference.
“We can talk before the next call-up, but Cris is the one who’s going to decide.
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“In my first call-up, I said, ‘I need you, I need you to be close to me, playing or not playing, I need you.’ And now I’m saying the same thing.”
Sources, however, said that because Jesus stopped short of specifically apologizing, Ronaldo has now opted to not return to the team while Jesus is the coach.
Ronaldo left the national team squad after he was an unused substitute for a 2-1 win away to Norway in the Nations League on Sept. 27.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo last week vowed to “tell the truth” in due course in a spat which threatened to end the international career of the Al Nassr forward, who has scored a record-breaking 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal.
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Ronaldo has not made any further comments.
ESPN has reached out to the Portugal football federation for comment.
ESPN’s Sam Marsden contributed to this report.
