BY ISSAH OLEGOR
Cristiano Ronaldo has left the Portugal national team camp following growing speculation over his relationship with head coach Jorge Jesus, with the veteran forward saying he will reveal the reasons behind his decision “in time.”
Ronaldo’s departure comes after Jesus publicly denied reports of a rift between himself and the Portugal captain, insisting that there had been no serious incident involving the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
The development has nevertheless raised questions about the circumstances surrounding Ronaldo’s decision to leave the squad during the ongoing international break.
The 41-year-old forward had been included in Jesus’ 25-man squad and started Portugal’s opening Nations League match against Wales. However, he was left out of the team that defeated Norway 2-1 in Oslo on Sunday.
Ronaldo also did not join his teammates in acknowledging the travelling Portuguese supporters after the final whistle, instead heading towards the dressing room. His absence from the post-match celebrations fuelled reports that he was unhappy with the decision to leave him on the bench.
Jesus, however, sought to play down the speculation ahead of Portugal’s Nations League encounter with Denmark, saying Ronaldo had been informed before the Norway match that he would not start.
The coach explained that Ronaldo had been told he could be introduced later in the match but that he ultimately decided against using him. “There was no incident whatsoever,” Jesus said.
He added that any player who spends a considerable period warming up without being introduced would naturally be disappointed.
“Any player – and I was a player myself – when you spend 20 or 30 minutes warming up and then don’t get on, no-one is happy about that,” Jesus said.
Jesus also rejected reports that Ronaldo had refused to train with the squad, explaining that the forward had instead been assigned individual work focused on mobility and strengthening. According to the coach, Ronaldo was expected to return to normal team training afterwards.
Despite those explanations, Ronaldo subsequently left the camp. The Portugal captain announced his decision through a statement on social media, saying he had made the decision after speaking with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation. “After the press conference of the national team and following a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team training camp,” Ronaldo said.
He indicated that he would eventually provide his own account of the circumstances surrounding his departure. “In time, I will tell all the Portuguese the truth about the reasons that motivated me to leave,” he added.
Ronaldo also wished his teammates well in their upcoming fixtures.
His departure comes at a significant stage of his international career. The Al-Nassr forward had previously indicated that he had considered retiring from international football after the 2026 World Cup but decided to continue playing as he pursues the landmark of 1,000 career goals. Jesus had already indicated that Goncalo Ramos would be preferred ahead of Ronaldo for the next fixture, with the AC Milan striker having scored Portugal’s winning goal against Norway.
“If I need [Ronaldo], he’ll come on. If I don’t need him, he won’t,” Jesus said when discussing the selection decision.
The Portuguese Football Federation subsequently confirmed Ronaldo’s departure but said preparations for the national team’s upcoming matches would continue.
The federation said the remaining 24 players would continue preparations as planned and that the delegation remained focused on its upcoming fixtures and the objectives set for the team.
