Jorge Jesus says Fenerbahce have no chance of signing Cristiano Ronaldo as the Manchester United forward wants to play in one of the 'big five' leagues.

The Red Devils are reportedly open to offers for the Portugal captain, who only returned to Old Trafford from Juventus last September.

Ronaldo was on the bench for United's 2-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion in their opening game of the Premier League season, before starting in the chastening 4-0 thrashing at Brentford last Saturday.

The prolific forward's future has long since been the subject of speculation and Fenerbahce are among a host of clubs said to be keen to sign him before the transfer window closes on September 1.

Fenerbahce head coach Jesus has ruled out any possibility that the prolific 37-year-old could be on his way to Turkey.

He said: "Yes, I'm a friend of Ronaldo, But he doesn't want to come, he has other ideas.

"I think he doesn't want to play in any league other than one of the big five."

Asked if he thinks Ronaldo will stay at United, the Portuguese replied: "I know that he will not play for Fenerbahce."

Mesut Ozil will not be rescued from the Fenerbahce wilderness by Jorge Jesus, the new boss of the Turkish giants said on Friday.

Former Arsenal and Real Madrid playmaker Ozil has a contract that runs to the end of the 2023-24 season but was banished from first-team duties in March.

Reports claimed that decision came after a dispute with interim head coach Ismail Kartal, and Ozil may have hoped the appointment of Jesus would change his circumstances.

Yet a return to action for Fenerbahce seems as far away as ever after former Benfica and Sporting CP boss Jesus declared Ozil does not figure in his plans.

"What you have achieved in the past in football is very important. Mesut Ozil has a very important past, but the club has made a decision about him, and he will continue in the same way," Jesus said at a news conference held to announce his arrival.

Jesus added, according to Turkish news outlet Hurriyet: "The important thing here is not Jorge Jesus, Mesut Ozil or any other person. Fenerbahce is important."

Fenerbahce signed Ozil from Arsenal in January 2021 after he fell out of favour with the Premier League club, with the deal considered a major coup at the time.

After a second-placed finish in the 2021-22 Super Lig, Fenerbahce are hoping to bring in four or five new players, said club president Ali Koc, who added: "We will focus on players who will be decisive offensively."

They might have hopes of offloading Ozil, but the 33-year-old former Germany international said this week he has no intention of leaving the Istanbul giants.

Ozil wrote on Instagram: "I repeat with emphasis; I will not end my career in a team other than Fenerbahce.

"This decision is very clear and final. As per the requirements of professional life, if our management takes a decision about me, I will only respect this attitude. I will work hard and always keep myself ready."

 

Benfica have parted company with head coach Jorge Jesus by mutual consent.

The decision follows a 3-0 defeat against rivals Porto in the Taca de Portugal round of 16, with a league clash against the same opponents coming up on Thursday.

Jesus rejoined Benfica in August 2020 but could only guide them to a third-place finish in his first season, with the club failing to secure any silverware for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign.

The team's performance in Europe was particularly disappointing, crashing out of the Champions League in qualifying and then going out of the Europa League in the round of 32.

Jesus leaves with Benfica third once more after 15 games of this season, having won 12, drawn one and lost two to sit four points behind leaders Porto.

Nelson Verissimo has been appointed as caretaker boss until the end of the season, having briefly filled the same position after the departure of Bruno Lage last year.

Benfica's Jorge Jesus says in his 30 years as a coach he has never seen anything like Haris Seferovic's glaring late miss in Tuesday's 0-0 Champions League draw at Barcelona.

The Portuguese outfit could have moved above Barcelona in Group E ahead of the final matchday with victory but Seferovic put wide a golden opportunity on the break having got past goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Darwin Nunez broke clear in a two-on-one situation in a last-gasp counter, squaring to Seferovic who dinked past Ter Stegen before poking wide from less than 12 yards with Eric Garcia scrambling to cover an empty net.

"At the end, there wasn't even a goalkeeper in goal for our final chance," Jorge Jesus told Eleven Sports.

"I've been a coach for 30 years and I've never seen anything like that in my life, but unfortunately it happened to me and Benfica."

He added: "It was a strong defensive display. It's true that during the 94 minutes Barcelona had one or two chances to score."

Barcelona had 66 percent possession with nearly double the number of passes (643-347) while they generated 14 shots compared to Benfica's seven, with both sides having three on target.

The draw means the Blaugrana remain second with seven points ahead of Benfica on five. Barca go to Bayern Munich, who are already confirmed as group winners, in the final matchday while Benfica host eliminated Dynamo Kiev.

"I want to congratulate the team for their defensive organisation," Jorge Jesus said. "We left here with a result that still leaves us dreaming but we are not dependent on our results.

"I keep saying the same thing: Barcelona are one of the best teams in the world and we are competing for qualification with them.

"This should make the fans, players and coach proud – today we were at the level of a great team."

Benfica defender Nicolas Otamendi, who made a key late block to deny Ousmane Dembele, refused to blame Seferovic.

"In the end we could have won, but it didn't happen," Otamendi said. "Seferovic tried, it didn't go in – it's football. We now have a final at home – we'll try to play to win and try to qualify.

"We have to keep the mentality of today and be organised. We tried not to let Barcelona build and we tried to get out fast, so now we want to repeat that in the next game."

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