Cristiano Ronaldo’s international future was thrown into uncertainty after the Portugal captain reportedly left the national team camp after learning that he would not start Thursday’s Nations League match against Denmark.
Ronaldo announced his departure late on Wednesday, shortly after coach Jorge Jesus confirmed that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner would be left out of the starting line-up for a second consecutive Nations League match.
Portugal went on to defeat Denmark 4-2 without Ronaldo, producing a commanding performance in his absence.
The former Real Madrid forward had been expected to train with his teammates at the Parken Stadium on the eve of the match but left the camp following Jesus’s announcement.
“Following the national team coach’s press conference, and after having a conversation with the Portuguese Football Federation president, I decided to leave the national team’s training camp,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram.
Ronaldo had spent the entire 2-1 Nations League victory over Norway on the bench on Sunday, having captained Portugal in their 1-0 home win over Wales the previous Thursday.
His statement appeared to suggest that his decision to leave was linked to deeper disagreements with the coaching staff and hinted at uncertainty over his future with the national team, which he has represented for more than two decades.
“In due course, I will tell the truth to all the Portuguese people about my reasons for leaving the national team, to which I have always been dedicated,” Ronaldo said.
“Now is time to wish good luck to Portugal and to all my team-mates, without exception.”
Spanish sports newspaper Marca reported that Jesus and Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença followed Ronaldo to Copenhagen airport in an attempt to persuade him to remain with the squad, but the forward ultimately boarded his private jet.
Jesus, who was appointed Portugal coach in July and previously coached Ronaldo at Saudi club Al-Nassr, had earlier denied any rift with the 41-year-old.
However, he acknowledged that Ronaldo was disappointed after being left on the bench against Norway.
“There was no incident whatsoever,” Jesus said after the match.
“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,” he added.
Jesus said he had informed Ronaldo before the Norway match that he might be introduced as a substitute but ultimately decided against bringing him on.
“Afterwards, as coach, I decided not to bring him on. It’s nothing to make a fuss about,” he said.
Following Portugal’s 4-2 victory over Denmark, much of Jesus’s post-match press conference was dominated by questions about Ronaldo.
“This Portugal team scored four goals and put in a performance which, in my opinion, was of a very high standard,” Jesus said.
“Of course, this is more important than anything else that has happened.
“I still think exactly the same way: there are players with status. That much is crystal clear.
“But I’ll say it again: the rules are the same for everyone.”
There were also reports that Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro had discussed Ronaldo’s involvement with Jesus on Wednesday.
Jesus had earlier confirmed that he intended to start AC Milan striker Gonçalo Ramos against Denmark after the forward scored the winner against Norway.
Regarding Ronaldo, the coach said: “If I need him, he’ll come on. If I don’t need him, he won’t.”
Ronaldo recently suggested that the end of his playing career could be approaching, saying this would “probably” be his final year in football.
Portugal’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, Ronaldo has scored 146 goals in 234 international appearances.
The former Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward made his Portugal debut in 2003 at the age of 18. He played in the Euro 2004 final, when Portugal lost to hosts Greece, before helping the country reach the 2006 World Cup semi-finals.
Ronaldo later captained Portugal to European Championship glory at Euro 2016.
His latest international chapter has now been thrown into uncertainty following his decision to leave the squad ahead of the Denmark match.
AFP
