Portugal manager Jorge Jesus has insisted that he doesn’t care about any player’s history or reputation, revealing that he once told Neymar to his face that he was finished. Jesus also claimed that he will do what is best for his team, acknowledging that he has coached two of the best players in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.
Roberto Martinez recently decided to step down from his role as Portugal head coach after A Selecao were eliminated in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 by Spain. As a result, Jesus was appointed as their new manager earlier today on a four-year deal (July 10).
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During the presentation press conference, Jesus dived into his philosophy, claiming that his decisions will not be influenced by a player’s past or reputation. He said (h/t @DataFutebol):
“I’ve already coached the 2 best players in the world, and the third one I won’t coach is missing (Messi). I coached Neymar, and Ronaldo. And about Neymar, one day I said to him like this: You, finish!”
Neymar played under Jorge Jesus at Al-Hilal following his €90 million transfer from PSG in the summer of 2023. However, the Brazilian ace struggled with multiple injuries, including a season-ending ACL rupture during the 2023-24 campaign.
Due to his lengthy injuries and drop in form, Neymar’s contract was mutually terminated in January 2025. The 34-year-old was only able to score one goal and provide three assists in seven appearances for the Saudi Pro League giants.
Additionally, Jesus worked with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr last season, helping the Knights of Najd win the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League title.
Neymar considering retirement from club football days after Brazil’s 2026 FIFA World Cup elimination: Reports
Santos ace Neymar is considering retiring from club football and is expected to announce his decision in the coming days, as reported by UOL Esporte (h/t News18). The former Barcelona attacker recently announced his retirement from international football after Brazil were eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup following their 2-1 loss to Norway in the Round of 16 (July 5).
Despite being contracted with Santos until the end of the year, Neymar, who continues to struggle with his fitness, is reportedly considering three options. The 34-year-old is considering playing out his contract at Santos, joining a different club, while the third option is to retire from football altogether.
Neymar has only featured in eight games across all competitions for Santos this year, recording four goals and two assists.
Edited by Silas Sud
