De la Fuente Rejects Claims of Bitter Cristiano Ronaldo Farewell to Portugal

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has dismissed suggestions that Cristiano Ronaldo’s reported farewell from the Portugal national team was a bitter one following his clash with coach Jorge Jesus.

De la Fuente made the remarks during an interview with the Spanish news agency EFE ahead of Spain’s final two Nations League group matches against the Czech Republic and England.

When asked whether Ronaldo’s departure from international football could be described as bittersweet, the Spanish coach firmly rejected the suggestion.

“No, no way, God forbid,” De la Fuente responded.

Ronaldo had announced his readiness to hand over Portugal’s iconic number seven shirt to the next generation of players, signalling what appeared to be an emotional moment in his international career.

In his farewell message to Portuguese supporters, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent his country and acknowledged the difficulty of making such a decision.

“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to return our national team’s No. 7 shirt,” Ronaldo said.

He added, “This was not an easy decision, because some decisions are made not only with the mind, but also with the heart.”

The Portugal captain also thanked his teammates, coaches, family and supporters for their backing throughout his international career.

His announcement came amid reports of tension following his clash with coach Jorge Jesus, prompting discussions about the circumstances surrounding his departure.

However, De la Fuente’s comments suggest that he does not view Ronaldo’s farewell as a bitter ending to his time with the Portuguese national team.