Portugal: Too early to say – Jose Mourinho on Cristiano Ronaldo becoming manager after retirement

Real Madrid manager José Mourinho addressed reporters at Valdebebas on Friday, one day after Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football, concluding a distinguished 23-year career with the Portuguese national team.

Mourinho acknowledged and respected Ronaldo’s decision, emphasizing that the iconic forward remains focused on his club ambitions with Saudi Arabian team Al-Nassr. However, the manager expressed a desire for Ronaldo’s farewell as a player to have been more celebratory.

“His decision must be respected, and I respect it,” Mourinho said. “He hasn’t finished his career; those who know him recognize that he still has goals for his career. The only wish I have is for his retirement as a player to have been different from yesterday’s.”

When asked whether he envisioned Ronaldo as a future coach, Mourinho stated that it is still too early to draw any conclusions.

Ronaldo, for his part, has previously indicated a lack of interest in pursuing a managerial career following his retirement from professional play. After recently extending his contract with Al-Nassr, he dismissed the idea of stepping into coaching, although he acknowledged that his perspective might evolve.

“Being a coach? Right now, I can say I will never be one, although ‘never’ is a strong word,” Ronaldo stated. “The reality is that it’s not in my plans for the next five, 10, or even 20 years.”

The 41-year-old announced his departure from international duty on Thursday, having made 234 appearances for Portugal and scoring a record 146 goals. His notable achievements with the national team include winning the 2016 European Championship and three UEFA Nations League titles.

Ronaldo’s announcement followed reports of tensions between him and Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus. It was reported that Ronaldo left the national team camp without authorization after being excluded from a Nations League match, resulting in a 30-day suspension imposed by the Portuguese Football Federation.

Read Full Article