Sani Michael Omakogi ( SMO ) has faulted Portugal manager Jorge Jesus over what he described as the manner in which veteran captain Cristiano Ronaldo is being handled by the national team, insisting that the situation calls for greater respect, transparency and professional communication.
SMO argued that Ronaldo’s status as one of Portugal’s most accomplished footballers demands a clear understanding between the player and the manager regarding his role in the national team.
He maintained that if the manager had doubts about Ronaldo’s suitability for his tactical plans, such concerns should have been communicated openly rather than inviting the 41-year-old forward to the national team only to leave him on the bench.
According to him, Ronaldo’s age should not come as a surprise to the technical team, as his physical limitations are already known.
However, SMO stressed that the decision to include him in the squad should be based on the qualities he continues to bring, particularly his experience, leadership, mentality and influence within the dressing room.
SMO said the issue should therefore not be reduced to whether Ronaldo can maintain the physical intensity required to play every minute of a match.
Rather, he argued that if the manager considers the five-time Ballon d’Or winner valuable enough to be invited, his role should be clearly defined and managed with appropriate respect.
He further questioned what he described as an apparent contradiction between the importance attached to Ronaldo when his presence is needed and the manner in which he is subsequently treated when tactical decisions are being made.
SMO also raised questions about the relationship between Jesus and Ronaldo, alleging that the Portuguese manager had previously benefited from the football icon’s enormous international profile and global influence.
He argued that Ronaldo’s name and reputation have contributed significantly to the visibility surrounding Portuguese football and maintained that such a relationship should be based on mutual respect rather than personal or professional interests.
“You cannot benefit from the stature and influence of a player when it suits you and subsequently disregard the same player when you have authority,” SMO said.
On reports of another meeting concerning Ronaldo’s international future, SMO expressed concern that repeated discussions would serve little purpose if they were not followed by a clear and consistent understanding of the player’s role.
He argued that Ronaldo should not repeatedly be persuaded to remain available for Portugal only for questions about his position in the team to resurface shortly afterwards.
For SMO, the controversy extends beyond Ronaldo himself and touches on the broader principles of leadership and man-management in football.
He said a national team manager must be able to balance tactical decisions with the personalities, experience and contributions of senior players, particularly those who have made significant contributions to the country over many years.
SMO warned that poorly managed disagreements involving an influential player could affect the atmosphere within a dressing room and create unnecessary tension among other members of the squad.
He therefore urged Jesus to approach the matter with greater clarity, insisting that whatever decision is ultimately taken regarding Ronaldo’s future should be communicated directly and handled with dignity.
“Cristiano has given an extraordinary part of his career to Portugal. If the team still needs his experience and leadership, then his role should be clearly communicated and respected. If the technical team has decided that his time is over, that decision should equally be communicated honestly and directly,” SMO said.
He maintained that, at this stage of Ronaldo’s career, respect and honest communication should remain at the centre of any decision concerning his continued involvement with the Portuguese national team.
