Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus admitted that he was unaware of Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to retire from international football until the news was made public.
In an interview with Punch Nigeria, Jesus said he had not been informed of the star striker’s plans and only learned of the announcement when it appeared in the media.
Ronaldo, who has captained Portugal to major trophies over the past decade, announced his retirement from national team duty following the 2022 World Cup, a move that has surprised many in the football community.
Jesus, who has been at the helm of the Portuguese national side since 2023, expressed that the information had not reached him prior to the official statement, highlighting the surprise even among the coaching staff.
The announcement marks the end of an era for Portugal, as the club and country’s most prolific goal scorer steps away from international competition after a career that has spanned more than 200 caps.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
