Jose Mourinho has said it is too soon to determine whether Cristiano Ronaldo will consider becoming a football manager after eventually ending his professional playing career.

The experienced manager spoke to journalists at Valdebebas on Friday, one day after Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football, bringing his 23-year journey with the Portuguese national team to a close.

Mourinho, who previously worked with Ronaldo, said the forward’s decision deserved respect. He also pointed out that the 41-year-old had not brought his entire football career to an end, as he still has ambitions to achieve with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.

However, the former Real Madrid manager admitted that he would have preferred Ronaldo’s farewell as a Portugal player to have happened differently. Speaking about the announcement, Mourinho said: “His decision must be respected, and I respect it. He hasn’t finished his career; those who know him know he still has goals for his career, and the only thing I would like is for his retirement as a player to be different from yesterday’s.”

Mourinho was also asked whether he could picture the five-time Ballon d’Or winner moving into management and following a similar career path to his own. He declined to make any prediction, explaining that there was not enough information to determine what Ronaldo might choose to do after football.

“As for whether I see him as a coach, I don’t know what to say. It’s still too early,” Mourinho responded.

Ronaldo himself has previously indicated that coaching is not part of his immediate plans for life after professional football. When discussing his future following the announcement of his contract extension with Al-Nassr, the Portuguese forward ruled out the possibility of becoming a manager, although he acknowledged that he could change his mind.

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

Ronaldo announced his international retirement on Thursday after making 234 appearances for Portugal and scoring a national-record 146 goals. During his 23 years representing his country, he helped Portugal win the 2016 European Championship and three UEFA Nations League titles.

His decision came amid reports of a disagreement with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus. Ronaldo was reportedly said to have left the national team camp without permission after being left out of a Nations League fixture. The incident resulted in a 30-day suspension imposed by the Portuguese Football Federation.

Although Ronaldo has ended his international career, he remains active at club level with Al-Nassr. Mourinho’s comments therefore leave open the question of whether the former Portugal captain will eventually consider coaching or choose an entirely different direction when his playing days are over.

Tighten the article’s repeated phrasingClarify Ronaldo’s retirement distinction