Portugal coach Jorge Jesus has downplayed the recent controversy involving Cristiano Ronaldo, insisting the incident attracted excessive attention because of the forward’s status as a national icon.
Jesus said on Monday that the disagreement should not affect their relationship, describing the situation as something that has been exaggerated.
“In my opinion, you can’t hold a one-year friendship against someone over a situation that is difficult to understand,” Jesus stated.
He argued that the issue gained prominence simply because Ronaldo was involved, noting that players are often sent to warm up without eventually featuring in matches.
“Just because it was him. Just because it was him, and perhaps rightly so, because he is a symbol, this whole issue of warming up and not warming up, coming on and not coming on, has been created,” he added.
“How many players warmed up today and didn’t come on? How many? Is there going to be a problem with any of them? No.”
The controversy followed Ronaldo’s departure from Portugal’s training camp last week after the 2-1 victory over Norway, where he spent a lengthy period warming up in the second half but was not introduced.
The 41-year-old had started Portugal’s previous game against Wales before being substituted.
Jesus, who previously coached Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, has maintained that the episode was a misunderstanding rather than a serious breakdown in their relationship.
The coach has also indicated that Ronaldo could return to future squads if he wants to continue representing Portugal, while stressing that team requirements ultimately guide his decisions.
