Copenhagen became the setting for an abrupt break in Portugal’s camp as Cristiano Ronaldo departed Denmark on a private flight to Madrid, despite a final attempt by coach Jorge Jesus and Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença to persuade him to remain with the squad.
Departure from the Portugal camp
- Ronaldo first left Portugal’s training base and returned to the team hotel to collect his belongings.
- A private aircraft was sent from Madrid to Copenhagen for the forward, arriving at about 22:15 Spanish time.
- Jesus and Proença accompanied Ronaldo to the airport, where they made one final effort to change his decision.
- The 40-year-old chose to leave, boarded the jet and flew back to Madrid. Jesus and Proença stayed in Denmark with the remaining Portugal group.
Tension after Jorge Jesus’s first match
The departure follows an incident involving Jesus, whose first game in charge of Portugal included Ronaldo in the starting line-up. The forward was reportedly left warming up for around 30 minutes without being introduced later in the match.
Edu Aguirre, a journalist close to Ronaldo, said Jesus subsequently apologised to the player in private and promised that he would also address the matter publicly. Aguirre claimed Ronaldo felt let down when the coach’s public approach later changed.
The disagreement has therefore cut short Ronaldo’s stay in Copenhagen, with Portugal now continuing their international gathering without their captain and record goalscorer.
