Portugal ‘to plan’ post-Ronaldo era long before Jorge Jesus row | OneFootball

Cristiano Ronaldo's stand-off with Portugal did not start with Jorge Jesus. AS reports that the federation had been planning for life after their captain well before the current coach arrived.

Officials expected him to retire after the World Cup, but he carried on. His continuation kept succession and squad balance on the agenda.

Candidates to succeed Roberto Martinez, in some cases, insisted on Ronaldo's departure as a precondition. The federation was receptive.

Jesus's arrival confronted Ronaldo with that landscape. He was no ordinary squad member, but a 41-year-old captain whose influence required his role to be defined by team needs, not past glories.

The standoff flared when he was named among the substitutes against Norway. He then left the camp in Copenhagen after a dispute with Jesus.

His decision followed the coach's press conference and a discussion with federation president Pedro Proenca, and he intends to explain his reasons in due course.

Source: Goal.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”