The row between Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal is no longer being treated as a crisis to defuse this month. It is being scheduled.
Portuguese journalist Miguel Pereira told talkSPORT’s Sunday Edition that back-channel talks have already started, and framed the next step not as a November reunion but as a planned exit later in 2027.
“I really do think there are bridges being built between Cristiano’s camp, Jesus’ camp,” Pereira said.
“Cristiano will be back for a last dance with the Portuguese side later next year.”
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That timeline matches what French daily L’Équipe reported, as relayed by World Soccer Talk: the Portuguese Football Federation is lining up a farewell fixture to let Ronaldo “properly say goodbye to the fans” before he closes out his international career.
Jesus plays down the walkout
Head coach Jorge Jesus has refused to treat the exit as a rupture. Speaking to reporters and relayed by Sports Illustrated, he called the row “a misunderstanding”.
“It was a misunderstanding. In my opinion, it’s easy to resolve,” Jesus said.
“It was a poorly resolved issue, there wasn’t really an issue. Something was created out of nothing.”
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Federation president Pedro Proença used almost identical language in the same reporting, saying the matter would be dealt with privately once the current fixture window ends.
“We are facing a misunderstanding, and this has to be resolved internally,” Proença said.
“Now that these four games are over, we will have the time and peace of mind to all sit down and find a solution to this misunderstanding.”
Ronaldo’s condition: no return while Jesus is in charge
Not every report points the same way. CNN Portugal commentator Rui Santos, cited by Latestly, claimed Ronaldo has privately set a condition for any comeback: that Jesus is no longer in charge.
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Ronaldo himself has not confirmed any such demand. In his only public comment since leaving the camp, he said he would tell Portuguese fans “the truth about the reasons behind my departure” at a later date.
He left camp on 1 October, hours after learning he would be left out of the starting XI again, this time against Denmark. He had been an unused substitute in Portugal’s 2-1 win away to Norway on 27 September. Portugal then beat Denmark 4-2 without him.
Portugal next play Denmark at home on 14 November, followed by Wales on 17 November. Both the federation and the coach have presented those fixtures as the deadline, not for Ronaldo’s return, but for the internal meeting that will decide when and where the farewell match happens.
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