“It’s an egolantric.” Will Cristiano Ronaldo's return divide the selection?

António Simões warned, this Monday, in an interview given to the ‘Sports Newspaper’ of Antena 1, to the potential negative consequences that a possible return of Cristiano Ronaldo to the main selection of Portugal can cause, after the way he abandoned the stage of it, in disagreement with Jorge Jesus.

“There are those who accept in a free way and in silence, and there are others who, also in silence, although he enters, will not accept”, started by affirming Benfica’s ‘live legend’, arguing that the Portuguese Football Federation (PFF) cannot limit itself to giving in to the status that Sporting player has built over the last few years.

“ We all admire him, we all know we're talking about one of the greatest football players ever. I confess I'm sad. Above all, I am sad, because football cannot be treated this way. This gentleman is an egolatric, everyone has to obey his whims ", he added.

A position similar to that of Gilberto Madail, former president of FPF: “The way this is going to be resolved... I think so, that if there's a consensus and everything's okay... But never the way it seemed to be solved, which was according to the will of only Cristiano Ronaldo. With this, I do not agree”.

“ I hope that Cristiano Ronaldo, Jorge Jesus and Pedro Proença can come to an understanding”

In the same publication, Henrique Callisto, the maximum leader of the National Association of Football Coaches (ANTF), called for the realization of a ‘climber of peace’ between Cristiano Ronaldo, Jorge Jesus and Pedro Proença, so that this ‘new’ can be said to be finished once and for all.

“ I hope that the three parts, player, coach and direction of FPF, can come to an understanding as soon as possible, because the worst of this was speculation about what happened and the solution that has to be found. That's the worst that can happen. It is necessary to have concrete data, to seek the solution ", reflected.

“ I think that if there is – and there is certainly – interest in these three parts, understanding will appear (...). Even if you leave, it is necessary that this exit is more dignified and that it reflects the brilliant career that Cristiano Ronaldo had. Regardless of whether you want to stay or want to leave, you have to find a better solution, obviously”, he added.

Doors open for return to national selection

The words of António Simões, Gilberto Madail and Henrique Callisto appear after, on the eve, Jorge Jesus opened the door to the return of Cristiano Ronaldo: “It was never a case for me at first. It was something I thought was normal as a coach. Having a player with the symbol he is for the country and for the selection...”.

“There are principles as a coach that are non-negotiable, but, as there was nothing special in terms of what my authority is, for me, Cris at the next call will be, if he is playing at Al Nassr, a convocable player, if he wants to return to the selection,” he stressed, after the victory over Norway, by 1-2, that it was the clearance for the final rooms of the League of Nations.

Also Pedro Proença, president of the FPF, ‘held the treadmill’ to the Madeiran: “Christian Ronaldo represents the greatest symbol of portugality, and we must bow to Cristiano Ronaldo. He is in the national team for his own sports merit, and will always be part of this working group whenever he is technically capable.”.