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.
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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.
Image:
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo reacts to a missed chance during the UEFA Nations League, League A match at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon
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.
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.
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Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol:
“Another day, another big Cristiano Ronaldo story. He is a man who has been making headlines for 23 years with Portugal. This latest story, though, leaves a bit of a bad taste in the mouth.
“Ronaldo was a substitue in Portugal’s game against Norway on Sunday night, which they won 2-1, and he was expecting to come on as a substitute.
“But the Portugal manager Jorge Jesus decided not to use him. He said, ‘I planned to use him, but the circumstances weren’t right for him to be introduced during that game’.
“Ronaldo appears not to have taken this snub very well because he has not trained with his teammates since that game, he had been training in the gym, and he has now confirmed he has left the camp.”