Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed on Wednesday that he has left the Portuguese national team’s training camp in Copenhagen. The departure occurred on the eve of Portugal’s Nations League match against Denmark, amid widespread reports of a dispute between the forward and coach Jorge Jesus.
“Following the national team manager’s press conference, and after a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team’s training camp,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram, adding that he would soon tell fans “the truth about the reasons behind my departure.”
The squad subsequently arrived at their hotel without either Ronaldo or Jesus. Portuguese newspaper A Bola posted a video showing the 41-year-old leaving Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium in a federation vehicle, reportedly departing shortly after Jesus publicly claimed the forward would take part in the session. Meanwhile, Spanish outlet Marca reported that Ronaldo planned to take a private flight to Madrid.
Tensions initially surfaced after Ronaldo did not play in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway on Sunday. Jesus had told him he would come off the bench but ultimately decided against bringing him on. Following that game, Ronaldo worked in the gym rather than training on the pitch with the squad on Monday and Tuesday, despite carrying no injuries.
Prior to Wednesday’s training session, Jesus had denied that Ronaldo was refusing to train and urged journalists not to manufacture a controversy. He insisted it was normal for the veteran to work indoors in the days after a match. “He didn’t refuse. He’s going to train today,” Jesus told reporters before the afternoon drama unfolded.
Jesus maintained that no incident had occurred, though he did confirm discussing the selection situation with Ronaldo. “They forced me to talk to Cris about an issue that didn’t exist. There was nothing to talk about,” Jesus said, quoting the player as saying: “I’m here for you to decide. If you want me to play, I’ll play. If you want me to go to the stands, I’ll go.”
The situation drew the attention of Portuguese Football Federation President Pedro Proenca, who altered his plans and traveled to Denmark on Tuesday to meet with both Jesus and Ronaldo before the crucial Nations League fixture.
Ronaldo is Portugal’s record goalscorer with 146 goals and the nation’s most-capped player with 234 appearances. The striker had already expressed frustration last week, claiming the media had been trying to “kill” him for years, and asserting he would leave “today” if the manager did not want him in the team.
