Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that he has departed Portugal’s international camp and will reveal the reasons why “in time.”
This follows head coach Jorge Jesus’ earlier statement that there was no rift with the captain after claims surfaced that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner had refused to train.
Ronaldo has revealed that he thought about retiring from international football following the summer World Cup but chose to carry on as he pursues 1,000 career goals.
He was named in Jesus’ 25-man squad for the current international break and started the opening Nations League match against Wales.
Yet the Al-Nassr forward was absent from Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway in Oslo on Sunday and did not join his team-mates in applauding the visiting fans at the final whistle.
Instead, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United player made his way to the changing rooms—sparking reports that he was unhappy with the manager.
Speaking to the media ahead of Portugal’s Nations League match against Denmark on Thursday, Jesus said, “There was no incident whatsoever.
“Any player—and I was a player myself—when you spend 20 or 30 minutes warming up and then don’t get on, no-one is happy about that.”
Jesus stated that he had told Ronaldo before the match he would not be starting but might be brought on later in the game.
“Afterwards, as coach, I decided not to bring him on. It’s nothing to make a fuss about,” he added.
Jesus, the former Benfica manager, also rejected claims that Ronaldo had refused to train on Tuesday, explaining that the 41-year-old instead needed to perform individual exercises for “mobility” and “strengthening” but would train as usual on Wednesday.
Yet Ronaldo did not take to the pitch with his teammates in Denmark, as Portuguese media circulated a video of him leaving Parken stadium with two members of the backroom staff.
The player then turned to Instagram to share news of his departure.
“After the press conference of the national team and following a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team training camp,” he wrote.
“In time, I will tell all the Portuguese the truth about the reasons that motivated me to leave.”
Goncalo Ramos netted the winner against Norway, and Jesus had stated that the AC Milan forward would once again be chosen ahead of Ronaldo for the Denmark game.
“If I need [Ronaldo], he’ll come on. If I don’t need him, he won’t.”
The Portuguese Football Federation subsequently confirmed Ronaldo’s exit in a statement, which added: “Preparation for the two matches against Denmark and Norway continues as planned with the 24 remaining squad members.
“The whole delegation stays entirely focused on the national team’s upcoming fixtures and on reaching the set objectives.”
