Pedro Proença, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, struck a conciliatory tone toward Cristiano Ronaldo just hours after reports emerged that the federation had provisionally suspended him. Speaking at a stadium inauguration in Porto on Saturday, Proença said he hopes to see Ronaldo back with the national team as soon as next month.
"The club, the coach, and all his teammates agree: Everyone wants Cristiano back. I expect him to return as early as the international break in November," Proença told reporters.
Disciplinary Commission to Decide
According to consistent reports, including from the Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Ronaldo was provisionally suspended by the federation on Saturday afternoon. No final ruling has yet been issued by the disciplinary committee regarding a possible penalty. Asked about the timeline, Proença said, "That depends entirely on the Disciplinary Committee, which will carry out its work as an autonomous body."
Ronaldo made headlines during the international break after leaving the national team's training camp early following his omission from the 2-1 Nations League first-leg win over Norway. He subsequently accused coach Jorge Jesus of breaking his word to him, and his future with the national team remains uncertain. In a statement, Ronaldo had hinted that he expected to face a penalty or suspension, but indicated he would be available to the team again afterward.
Ronaldo has played 234 international matches for Portugal, scoring 146 goals -- both national records. Despite the turmoil, defending champion Portugal won all four of its Nations League matches during the two turbulent weeks and has already secured a place in the quarterfinals.
