Ronaldo Leaves Portugal Camp After Being Omitted From Denmark Starting Line-Up

Cristiano Ronaldo has left Portugal’s training camp after head coach Jorge Jesus said the captain would not start the team’s Nations League match against Denmark on Thursday.

Ronaldo said in a statement posted on Instagram that he made the decision following Jesus’s news conference and a conversation with the president of the Portuguese football federation. He said he would later explain the reasons for his departure to the Portuguese people.

“Following the national team coach’s news conference, and after a conversation with the president of the Portuguese football federation, I decided to leave the national team’s training camp,” Ronaldo wrote.

The forward also said he had always been “dedicated” to the national team and wished Portugal and his teammates well.

“Now is the time to wish good luck to Portugal and to all my teammates, without exception,” he said.

Coach rejects feud suggestion

Jesus confirmed that he had not planned to start Ronaldo against Denmark but rejected the suggestion that the decision reflected a feud between the two men.

The coach also said Ronaldo had been disappointed after remaining on the bench during Portugal’s Nations League victory over Norway on Sunday. Ronaldo had not trained with the rest of the squad since that match.

The circumstances have prompted reports of tension between Ronaldo and Jesus, although the coach has denied that a dispute exists. Ronaldo’s full reasons for leaving had not been explained in his initial statement.

Portugal to continue preparations

The Portuguese football federation said preparations for the upcoming fixtures would continue with the remaining 24 members of the squad.

“The entire delegation remains fully focused on the national team’s upcoming fixtures and on achieving our goals,” the federation said.

Ronaldo, 41, is Portugal’s captain and record goalscorer. He has scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for the national team during an international career lasting 23 years.

The Al-Nassr forward has also said that the current Saudi Pro League season was likely to be the final campaign of his professional career. It remains unclear whether his latest departure signals the end of his international career.