Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of the Portugal national team, announced on Wednesday that he has left the team's training camp in Denmark. This decision was made after Jorge Jesus, the team's head coach, informed reporters that Ronaldo would not be in the starting lineup for the upcoming match.
Sudden Departure from Training Camp
Ronaldo was supposed to train with his teammates at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, but he suddenly left the camp after Jesus' press conference. The 72-year-old head coach of the Portugal national team stated that Ronaldo, who sat on the bench for 90 minutes in the recent match against Norway, would also not be in the starting lineup for Thursday's Nations League match against Denmark.
In a message posted on Instagram, Ronaldo wrote: "After the national team's head coach's press conference and a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I decided to leave the camp. I will share the truth about the reasons for leaving the national team with the people of Portugal at the right time. Now is the time to wish success to Portugal and all my teammates, without exception."
Coach's Explanation and Media Reaction
Jorge Jesus had previously emphasized that there was no issue between him and Ronaldo, although he acknowledged that the captain was upset about not being in the starting lineup. Jesus said: "There was no incident. Every player – and I was a player myself... When you warm up for 20 or 30 minutes and then don’t go on the field, no one is happy about that."
He also mentioned that he had informed Ronaldo before the match that he would not be in the starting lineup, but he might come on in the final minutes. Jesus added: "After that, as the head coach, I decided not to bring him on. This matter does not need any controversy."
Portuguese media released a video of Ronaldo leaving Parken Stadium alongside two coaching staff members. It was also reported that Ronaldo's private jet is en route to Copenhagen.
The Portuguese Football Federation also confirmed in a brief statement that Ronaldo did not participate in training. Jesus had previously stated that he intends to use Gonçalo Ramos, a striker from AC Milan who scored the winning goal against Norway, in the match against Denmark.
In the end, Ronaldo, at the age of 41, announced that this season will likely be his last in football. He is regarded as the top scorer and the player with the most international appearances in the history of Portuguese football, with 146 goals in 234 matches.
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