Portugal national team head coach, Jorge Jesus, has refused to apologise to Cristiano Ronaldo after the Al Nassr forward left the team’s camp over reported disagreement between the two parties.

Ronaldo last week abruptly left Portugal’s camp for the current international window after being an unused substitute in the team’s 2-1 win over Norway, despite being sent out to warm up.

Following the match, the 41-year-old released a statement announcing his withdrawal from the team, while vowing to provide clarification on the matter. 

“Following the national team manager’s press conference, and after a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team’s training camp.

“In due course, I will tell all Portuguese people the truth about the reasons behind my departure from the national team, to which I have always been fully committed. Now is the time to wish Portugal and all my teammates, without exception, the best of luck,” Ronaldo said.

Responding to questions on the matter following second-leg win over Norway on Sunday, Jesus stated he takes responsibility for the situation but insisted that he would not apologise for it. 

He reiterated that he is the head coach of the team and it is always his decision whether a player plays or not. 

“Apologise for what? To whom and why? I take responsibility for my decision and what happened, but apologise for what? It’s absurd. 

“I am the coach. I call up whoever I want. I don’t ask anyone’s opinion on who I select or who plays. As national team coach, there are things that are non-negotiable. I couldn’t be any clearer,” the coach said. 

He, however, assured that Ronaldo would be called up again for the next international window but notes that it would be up to the Real Madrid and Manchester United legend to decide whether to honour the invitation. 

“Cristiano Ronaldo will be called up for the next international break, if he wants to return. It’s his decision. I am ready to call him if he will play with Al-Nassr. In my opinion, you can’t hold a one-year friendship against someone over a situation that is difficult to understand.

“Just because it was him, and perhaps rightly so, because he is a symbol, this whole issue of warming up and not warming up, coming on and not coming on, has been created,” Jesus added.