Ronaldo vs. Jesus - Is this the end of his Portugal career? | Football Weekly
Ronaldo vs. Jorge Jesus: Is this the end of his Portugal career?
Football Weekly discusses Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the Portugal camp after being left out and whether Jorge Jesus could end his international career. The panel argues Portugal have looked better without him and that comments from Gonçalo Ramos and Vitinha are telling, while also debating whether Ronaldo and Modrić are treated differently.
- Jorge Jesus has always been his own man and could be the one to end Ronaldo's Portugal career. — A Portuguese journalist recalled that, as a club manager long ago, he confronted and stopped a 50 Cent soundcheck at the Restelo stadium because it was disrupting training, so people are not surprised he would take on Ronaldo.
- Jorge Jesus probably means it when he says Ronaldo can decide how his Portugal career ends, but Jesus will still do things his own way. — Wilson says that has always been Jesus's style; he is 72, has made his money, has nothing left to prove and is not afraid of losing a job.
- Ronaldo's reaction was a strop, and Jesus had no obligation to bring him on in a tight game. — The game away to Norway was very tight and Portugal ended up winning 2-1; substitutes warming up is normal, Jesus chose not to use him, and Ronaldo then walked out.
- Portugal actually played very well after Ronaldo left, and Gonçalo Ramos is thriving as his replacement. — Portugal won all four games in the international break; Ramos scored in all three games he started and set up a goal in the 2-1 win away to Norway.
- It is significant that Gonçalo Ramos and Vitinha have said Portugal are better now and that the new coach has good ideas, suggesting the dressing room may be shifting on Ronaldo. — Until now the players had been diplomatic and pro-Ronaldo, with Bruno Fernandes still that way; Ramos and Vitinha are both PSG players, and Vitinha has seen how effective a purge of egos can be.
- It is fair to give Ronaldo a harder time than Modrić. — Modrić is still performing well, there is no better Croatian midfielder to replace him, and he is not a diva-like personality who makes everything about himself.
Is there a way back for Cristiano Ronaldo? It seems as if his Portugal career is on the brink, but should a 41-year-old really be turning out for his nation anyway? Max Rushden discusses with Robyn Cowen, Jonathan Wilson and Barry Glendenning Watch the full podcast episode ► https://youtu.be/Efp7WCvqXbs Subscribe to Guardian Football ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardianfootball?subconfirmation=1 We want your feedback! If you had any thoughts on our coverage of the World Cup, please let us know here ► www.theguardian.com/YTWorldCupSurvey The Guardian publishes independent journalism, made possible by supporters. Contribute to The Guardian today ► https://support.theguardian.com/ Guardian Football Weekly: https://www.tiktok.com/@guardianfootballweekly https://www.instagram.com/guardianfootballweekly/ Website ► https://www.theguardian.com Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/theguardian Bluesky ► https://bsky.app/profile/sport.theguardian.com Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/guardiansport/ The Guardian on YouTube: The Guardian ► https://www.youtube.com/@theGuardian Football Weekly podcast ► https://www.youtube.com/@FootballWeeklyPodcast Guardian News ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardiannews Guardian Australia ► https://www.youtube.com/@GuardianAustralia Guardian Sport ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardiansport
Transcript
Goncalo Ramos, another goal for him. All the while, Robin, Cristiano Ronaldo was not there. >> And it seems like it was very much I mean his choice. I mean, what what else is there to say? He's saying there's more to come out. I don't know what's going to come out. Like that maybe he's going to claim that he was promised he was going to get to play and then he didn't and Yeah. But I did love that I don't know if you guys saw this this little tidbit on the BBC website from a Portuguese journalist about the Portugal coach. Um he says he's always been his own man and it was it's not a surprise that he seems to be potentially the one to end Cristiano Ronaldo's career because there's this story about when he was a manager of a Portuguese club a long long time ago before anyone sort of knew him. Uh he confronted and stopped a soundcheck from 50 Cent at the Restelo stadium forcing him to shut down because it was interfering with training. So this guy's got some balls. I mean and he's shown that I just thought that was that is what what a story that is. So it's just yeah. >> Yeah. >> People aren't surprised that he could be the one to end the international career of Ronaldo. >> And Annie Brassell was saying yesterday I think he he basically finished Neymar's career and basically said he is finished and like he had to pick a squad of 300 or something and he managed to leave out Neymar or something like that. Um >> So if he comes if he comes if you see him, you know that it's not good news, is it? >> Yeah. Um he said Jesus said if he wants to he'll return to the national team. We can talk before the next call up. Chris is the one who's going to decide. Cristiano should end his time with the national team the way he wants to. He's the one who will decide how he wants it. 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. Do you think he means it, Wilson? >> I think he he probably does, but it's on his terms and that's been the way Jorge Jesus has been throughout his career. I think it probably helps he's 72. He doesn't He's got nothing left to prove. You know, he if he loses his job ignominiously, so what? He's 72. He's made his money. He's had his time. His reputation's made. Um And yeah, the the the the squabble just just put it in context. So, the Ronaldo played the first game of international break, was taken off after 60-odd minutes. And both Jorge Jesus and Ronaldo have said there was a conversation had, and Ronaldo was told he would not be starting next game away in Norway. Ronaldo then early in the second half goes to warm up. Now, what's not clear is whether he did that of his own accord or whether he was told to do that. I do honestly, it doesn't really matter because substitutes should keep warm, and maybe Jorge Jesus was thinking of bringing him on. But, there's no obligation to do that. That game was very tight. Um Portugal ended up winning 2-1 away in Norway, and Jorge Jesus doesn't bring him on. Ronaldo has his strop. 3 days later, he walks out of the camp. And Portugal then produce a really, really good performance to beat 4-2 away. And then they beat Norway afterwards. So, they won all four games in this international break. They're going to be in the Nations League quarterfinal competition thing. Um and Gonçalo Ramos, who has replaced Ronaldo has scored in all in all three games he started. And he also, the game where they won 2-1 away to Norway, which I guess is the most impressive of those results. He he set up a goal he didn't score. So, he's thriving. And what I think is significant is up till now, the players have basically been quite diplomatic and quite pro Ronaldo. And Bruno Fernandes still was. But, what we've seen is Gonçalo Ramos and Vitinha have both said "Yeah, we're definitely better now. This new coach, he's got great ideas." And they haven't been explicit, but I mean I know I think it's not insignificant they're both PSG players. And Vitinha has seen what a just how effective a purge of egos can be, shall we say. >> Well, let's hope there's no purge of egos on this podcast, Wilson. I'm not [laughter] Um all right, that'll do it for part two. Uh I wasn't talking to you, Wilson, personally directly or anyone, I didn't point that out. >> Or myself. [laughter] >> I might I might storm off in 3 days' time, and then you'll be sorry. [laughter] >> Is it fair that we give Cristiano Ronaldo such a hard time for insisting on playing when he's 41, but Modrić gets a free pass? >> Yeah, of course, because Modrić has actually still been doing well. Um yeah, he he's not Yeah, okay. I think you can see that the the physical level has dropped in the last sort of year or so, but name me the Croatian midfielder who should come in who's better than him. I I don't I don't know. He's just not a divish personality, he's not somebody who makes it all about him. I think he's actually >> being slightly facetious. >> Uh okay. I Well, >> And you're all And you're all ruining part three, let me tell you.