Online Reporter
Cristiano Ronaldo has left Portugal’s camp in Denmark and vowed to reveal “the truth” behind his departure in due course.
Reports of a rift between Ronaldo and Portugal’s new head coach Jorge Jesus emerged after the six-time Ballon d’Or winner was left as an unused substitute in Sunday’s Nations League win over Norway.
Jesus, who was Ronaldo’s coach at Al Nassr, insisted “there was no incident whatsoever” in his press conference on Wednesday, claiming the star was set to return to training with his team-mates ahead of Thursday’s Nations League game against Denmark in Copenhagen.
However, Ronaldo announced he had walked out on Portugal’s camp later on Wednesday in a cryptic post on Instagram.
The 41-year-old wrote: “Following the national team manager’s press conference, and after a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I decided to leave the national team’s training camp.
“In due course, I will tell the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons behind my departure from the national team, to which I have always been dedicated.
“Now is the time to wish good luck to Portugal and to all my teammates, without exception.”
Spanish outlet Marca reported earlier on Wednesday that Ronaldo, who is Portugal’s record goalscorer and most-capped player of all time, took a private jet to Madrid.
In Ronaldo’s absence, Rafael Leao will wear the No 7 shirt for Portugal against Denmark.
Jesus, who previously worked with Ronaldo for around a year in Saudi Arabia, had tried to play down reports of a rift.
“It seems like there was an issue between us, but there was no issue,” he said. “I’m the one who makes the decisions and everybody knows that.”
Jesus admitted that Ronaldo was told he was likely to play against Norway, but he changed his mind because of the circumstances of the match.
“I can promise whatever I want, I’m the coach,” Jesus said. “No player will ever make a decision for me.”
Ronaldo has not participated in Portugal training since Sunday’s Norway win, which saw his replacement, Goncalo Ramos, score. The Al Nassr forward started in Portugal’s Nations League-opening home win over Wales last Thursday on a frustrating night for Ronaldo.
He missed a slew of chances and had a second-half effort ruled out by a VAR intervention before being taken off in the 67th minute.
His appearance against Wales was cap number 234 for Portugal, but his decision to leave the camp ahead of Thursday’s Denmark game raises huge doubts over whether he will add to that tally in the future.
Ronaldo admitted during this camp with Portugal that he considered international retirement after his disappointing World Cup performance drew widespread criticism.
There has also been plenty of support across social media for Ronaldo following his decision to leave the national team camp. Ronaldo’s sister, Elma Aveiro, shared one such message on her Instagram, commenting “everything has been said here”.
The message read: “CR7 deserved more respect. The national team deserved more structure. Portuguese journalism deserved more competence and less speculation.
“As for the Portuguese people, well… they don’t deserve to have the best at anything. We are envious, disdainful, ignorant, and we deserve to return to the mediocrity we always had in football before CR7. Thank you for everything, CR7! You deserved more!”
Across a 23-year international career, Ronaldo has scored 146 times in 234 appearances for Portugal. He has made no secret of wanting to reach 1,000 career goals – his current tally is 979 – but may have to achieve that feat in club football.
— skysports.
