Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal captain leaves squad amid reported rift with head coach Jorge Jesus | Football News
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.
Ronaldo has not participated in Portugal training since Sunday’s Norway win, which saw his replacement, Goncalo Ramos, score.
Ronaldo started in Portugal’s Nations League-opening home win over Wales last Thursday on a frustrating night for the Al Nassr forward.
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.
