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Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has made clear that Cristiano Ronaldo remains welcome in future international call-ups, as the country's Football Federation president called on all parties to meet and resolve what he described as "a misunderstanding."
Ronaldo departed the squad just two matches into this extended international window following a falling-out with Jesus, who had kept the experienced forward on the bench before declining to offer an apology at a subsequent press conference. Reports indicated that Ronaldo felt "betrayed" by the coach's actions.
Behind closed doors, Portugal officials quickly began exploring ways to mend Ronaldo's relationship with the national setup, with a public reconciliation effort appearing to be the first step in that process.
Jesus: It's Up to Ronaldo
Coach Jesus has spent the last week maintaining that he never believed there was any real problem between himself and Ronaldo.
Following his side's 2–1 victory over Norway — sealed by a goal from Gonçalo Ramos, the player who has stepped into Ronaldo's role — Jesus was firm in his belief that this does not have to mark the end of Ronaldo's time with the national team.
"I don't know what will happen," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, everything is open.
"It's up to Cris to decide his own future. In the next call-up, if Cris is playing and wants to be part of the national team, why not?
"It was a misunderstanding. In my view, it's straightforward to resolve. When will I resolve it? I'm not sure. The games are done, and only after that will we see how things develop.
Jesus continued: "I haven't spoken to him. It was a poorly handled situation — there wasn't really a problem to begin with. Something was blown out of proportion, a situation that escalated into what it became.
"I'm a coach, the national team manager. I don't make decisions alone. I'm part of a bigger picture. If everyone wants to share what they believe is best for the national team, I'm open to all of it. [Ronaldo] is the one who decides what he wants for his own life. Just as it was before the first call-up, it will be the same before the next. We talked before the first, and if he's willing, we'll talk again before the second.
"I'm not the one who will decide, nor can I. It's not a sad situation... It's been a year working with Cris. We share a very strong professional bond."
Portuguese Federation Ready for Peace Talks
As Ronaldo considered his decision to leave the Portugal camp, officials from the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) stepped in to try and prevent a damaging rift with the greatest player in the country's history.
FPF president Pedro Proença initially attempted to sidestep the topic during a recent interview with RTP — "This is a matter between the coach and the player" — but was careful to express strong public backing for Ronaldo.
"We are talking about one of the greatest players of all time," Proença said. "We must pay tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo. He earns his place in the national team on merit alone, and that is beyond question.
"He is aware of how we feel. We are dealing with a misunderstanding, and it must be resolved internally."
Proença added: "Cristiano Ronaldo is a cornerstone of our national team — he is our standard-bearer. And Jorge Jesus has said he is counting on Ronaldo. He is an extraordinary player who could have walked away from international football at the World Cup, but out of his love for the national team, he chose not to.
"Now that these four matches are behind us, we will have the time and the calm to sit down together and find a resolution to this misunderstanding.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is part of our legacy and will always have a place here, if the manager wants him."