09/30/26 04:34:00
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09/30 16:33 CDT Cristiano Ronaldo walks out on Portugal camp, hours after
learning he won't start against Denmark
Cristiano Ronaldo walks out on Portugal camp, hours after learning he won't
start against Denmark
By TALES AZZONI
AP Sports Writer
Cristiano Ronaldo walked out on Portugal's training camp on Wednesday, hours
after coach Jorge Jesus said the star forward would not start the game against
Denmark in the Nations League on Thursday.
Ronaldo said that "in time" he would "tell the Portuguese people the truth
about the reasons" behind his departure.
"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," he said on Instagram, adding that he has
always "dedicated" himself to the side.
"Now is the time to wish good luck to Portugal and to all my teammates, without
exception."
The Portuguese federation said only that Ronaldo left the training camp and
that the team's preparations would continue with the remaining 24 squad members.
"The entire delegation remains fully focused on the national team's upcoming
fixtures and on achieving our goals," the federation said.
Jesus had said in the pre-game news conference he was not planning to start
Ronaldo, but dismissed the notion there was a feud between the pair.
Jesus said every player knows the coach makes the decisions, and that Ronaldo
told him he would abide by whatever choices he makes.
The coach added the "rules are the same for everyone" and that Gonalo Ramos
would start up front against Denmark if everything went to plan.
"I don't know what's going to happen in the game," Jesus said. "If we need him
(Ronaldo) to play (at some point), he'll play. If not, he won't."
Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in men's international soccer with 146
goals and pursuing the milestone of 1,000 career goals, didn't play on Sunday
in Portugal's 2-1 win over Norway. He has not trained with the rest of the
group since, sparking widespread rumors about a possible feud with Jesus.
Jesus had said Al-Nassr forward Ronaldo would practice normally with the rest
of the squad on Wednesday, but the player ended by leaving the training camp
after the coach's words during the news conference.
The 41-year-old Ronaldo, who has 979 career goals, had said recently that this
Saudi Pro League season is likely to be the last of his professional career.
Jesus, who worked with Ronaldo for about a year in Saudi Arabia, said the
player did not refuse to practice after having been left on the bench.
"It seems like there was an issue between us, but there was no issue," Jesus
said. "I'm the one who makes the decisions and everybody knows that."
Jesus acknowledged he had told Ronaldo he would likely play against Norway, but
changed his mind because of the circumstances of the match.
He said it was a mistake to send Ronaldo to warm up for as long as he did and
then not use him. Jesus added "any player" would be upset about that.
But Jesus did not apologize for telling Ronaldo that he was likely to play.
"I can promise whatever I want, I'm the coach," Jesus said. "No player will
ever make a decision for me."
Jesus said, though, that someone with the stature of Ronaldo deserved a
different type of attention from coaches "because of his career and history in
soccer."
Jesus, who took over the squad from Roberto Martnez after the World Cup, said
he ended up being "obligated" to have a meeting with Ronaldo because of the
noise created in Portugal over the situation.
But he maintained there was no "Ronaldo case" to talk about and there was
nothing to solve between him and the player because nothing was wrong.
Jesus said it was normal that the federation president, Pedro Proena, also met
with the pair.
"We had to talk the three of us, but I had already talked with Chris and the
president didn't have to solve anything because there was nothing to solve,"
Jesus said.
Ronaldo started Portugal's 1-0 win over Wales last Thursday but was substituted
in the 67th minute. On Tuesday, he posted on Instagram a photo of him wearing
the kit accompanied by the country's flag and a heart emoji.
Portugal leads Group A4 of the Nations League with six points from two matches,
three points more than Denmark and Norway. Wales is last with no points.
Portugal also hosts Norway on Sunday.
It was not immediately clear whether Ronaldo's departure would extend beyond
the current international break.
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