Portugal’s training base has been unsettled by Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to leave the national team camp, ending a growing dispute with coach Jorge Jesus before the match against Denmark.
The 41-year-old confirmed his departure on social media after being seen leaving the stadium where Portugal had been training ahead of schedule. His exit followed days of tension around his absence from the side against Norway.
Quick facts
- Cristiano Ronaldo has left Portugal’s national-team training camp.
- He did not play against Norway despite warming up for around 30 minutes.
- Ronaldo did not take part in training in the following days.
- Jorge Jesus said an agreement had been made for Ronaldo to miss both Norway and Denmark.
- The Portuguese Football Federation president travelled to try to calm the situation.
Ronaldo said his decision came after the national coach’s press conference and a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation. He stated that he had chosen to depart the camp.
“At the appropriate time, I will tell the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons that led me to leave the national team,” Ronaldo said. He added that he had always given himself fully to Portugal and wished the squad well.
The immediate flashpoint came last weekend, when Ronaldo remained unused in the Norway match after a lengthy warm-up. He subsequently missed training sessions, with the atmosphere around the camp becoming increasingly strained.
Federation intervention did not resolve the matter. Jesus then publicly explained that Ronaldo had agreed not to feature against either Norway or Denmark, a declaration that appears to have brought the disagreement into the open and prompted the veteran forward’s departure.
