"I explained to Ronaldo he wasn't playing and he took it the wrong way"

The turmoil in Copenhagen involving Jorge Jesus inevitably mirrors events from the 2022 World Cup. In an interview with A BOLA on November 8, 2023, former Portugal manager Fernando Santos offered a detailed behind-the-scenes account of the day he informed Cristiano Ronaldo that he would be benched for the round of 16 clash against Switzerland in Qatar.

In that landmark conversation with the newspaper, the coach explained how he attempted to handle the dressing-room dynamics and described the captain's reaction to the news: "I went to explain that he wasn't going to start, and he took it the wrong way," Santos admitted. The manager explained that out of respect and transparency, he called the forward into his office right after lunch on matchday to outline his tactical strategy for the game.

Despite the upfront approach, the forward was visibly upset with the manager's choice. Although he ultimately accepted the decision for the match, losing his starting berth left deep and lasting fractures in a relationship that had previously seemed unshakeable.

Santos went on to reveal that their relationship cooled dramatically following that moment in the Middle East: "We haven't spoken since the day I returned from Qatar." However, he stressed his ongoing affection and respect for the captain: "Cristiano knows that whenever the phone rings, I am always here."

Those comments from November 2023 resonate with striking relevance today in the pages of A BOLA, highlighting how managing Cristiano Ronaldo once again stands as a major, complex flashpoint within the national team setup.