Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister doubts he will return to Portugal duty

“It’s more a no than a yes”: Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister does not expect her brother to return to Portugal duty after his dispute with Jorge Jesus. The forward left the national-team camp during the international break following their disagreement, after which the Portuguese football federation temporarily stood him down. Ronaldo has left the door open to a return, but his sister describes a break with the coach. She has also spoken of a rift between the two men. At 41, the forward is at the centre of a situation that has drawn widespread comment. Some have criticised what they see as his egocentric behaviour, while others have defended Ronaldo and accused Jorge Jesus of showing him a lack of respect.

Ronaldo’s sister spoke on Wednesday in Lisbon at a book launch attended by Jorge Jesus. Asked about her brother’s international future, she summed up her view: “It’s more no than yes.” She said both men were hurt and that the situation was currently “at a standstill”, adding: “We’ll see what happens.” She also referred to the pain betrayal can cause, without elaborating further.

The businesswoman and influencer said she was “speechless” and that it was “very hard” to see her brother go through the ordeal. In her view, he is among the people who least deserve to face such a situation. A few days earlier, their mother had also defended her son. Aveiro, for her part, expressed sadness at what she sees as the Portuguese forgetting what has already been achieved.

Ronaldo’s absence did not prevent Jorge Jesus’s men from winning both of their Nations League matches: 4-2 against Denmark and 2-1 against Norway. Ronaldo will not wear Portugal’s shirt during the next international window in November, as he has been temporarily suspended by the Portuguese federation. In his letter explaining the situation, he had said he was ready if called up again; his sister, however, currently sees a return as uncertain.