Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has left the team's training camp in Denmark after coach Jorge Jesus announced that he would not start in the upcoming Nations League match against Denmark. Ronaldo was seen at Parken stadium in Copenhagen, but he left abruptly after Jesus's press conference. The 37-year-old had been due to train with his teammates on Wednesday but did not join them on the pitch.
Jesus had said that Ronaldo, who spent the entire match on the bench against Norway on Sunday, would not start Thursday's match. He added that Ronaldo might be brought on towards the end of the game. However, Ronaldo decided to leave the training camp after having a conversation with the Portuguese Football Federation president. He wrote on Instagram that he would tell the truth to the Portuguese people about his reasons for leaving the national team in due course.
Jesus insisted that there had been no rift between him and Ronaldo, although the veteran coach acknowledged that his captain had been disappointed to remain on the bench in the side's Nations League win over Norway. Jesus said that any player would be unhappy if they spent 20 or 30 minutes warming up and then did not get on. He added that Ronaldo had not refused to train on Tuesday, but had needed to do individual exercises for physical mobility and strengthening.
Portuguese media shared a video of Ronaldo leaving the Parken stadium alongside two members of the backroom staff, just after Jesus's press conference. The Portuguese federation released a brief statement confirming that Ronaldo had not trained. Jesus said that he intended to start with AC Milan striker Goncalo Ramos, who scored the winner against Norway, in the match against Denmark.
Ronaldo's private jet left Madrid airport at 7:49pm local time en route to Copenhagen and was scheduled to return to the Spanish capital at 11:30pm local time. The 37-year-old is Portugal's leading goalscorer and most capped player, with 146 goals in 234 appearances. He announced this summer that this season would probably be his last year in football.
Jesus added that if he needed Ronaldo, he would bring him on, but if he did not need him, he would not play. The coach said that there had been no incident whatsoever and that Ronaldo had been told before the match that he would not be in the starting line-up. Ronaldo went straight to the changing rooms without joining his teammates in acknowledging the Portuguese supporters in the stands after the match against Norway.
The incident has raised questions about Ronaldo's future with the Portuguese national team. At 41, Ronaldo will be 40 by the time the next European Championship takes place. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been a key player for Portugal throughout his career, and his absence will be felt in the upcoming matches.
Key points
- Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Portugal training camp after being dropped for Denmark match
- Ronaldo had been due to train with his teammates on Wednesday but did not join them on the pitch
- Jesus insisted that there had been no rift between him and Ronaldo
