Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has left the national team’s training camp amid reports of tension between the veteran forward and head coach Jorge Jesus.
Ronaldo’s departure on Wednesday came hours after Jesus announced that the 41-year-old would not start Portugal’s Nations League match against Denmark on Thursday.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Ronaldo said he decided to leave the camp following the coach’s press conference and a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation.
“Following the national team coach’s news conference, and after a conversation with the president of the Portuguese football federation, I decided to leave the national team’s training camp.”
Ronaldo, Portugal’s captain and record goalscorer, said he would explain the reasons for his decision “in time”, promising to tell the Portuguese people the truth about his departure.
He also stressed his commitment to the national team and wished Portugal and his teammates success in their upcoming fixtures.
The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed that Ronaldo had left the camp but gave no further details, saying preparations would continue with the remaining 24 players.
“The entire delegation remains fully focused on the national team’s upcoming fixtures and on achieving our goals,” the federation said.
Jesus, speaking at a pre-match press conference earlier on Wednesday, confirmed that Ronaldo would not start against Denmark but rejected suggestions that there was a feud between them.
The coach said players understood that team selection was the coach’s responsibility and that Ronaldo had told him he would respect his decisions.
Jesus, however, acknowledged that Ronaldo was disappointed after being left on the bench during Portugal’s Nations League victory over Norway on Sunday.
Ronaldo has not trained with the rest of the squad since that match.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has enjoyed a 23-year international career, scoring 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal.
His sudden departure has raised questions about the future of his international career, particularly as he recently indicated that the current Saudi Pro League season with Al-Nassr could be the final campaign of his professional career.
Ronaldo, who has scored 979 career goals, remains one of the most prolific players in international and club football.
