Cristiano Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp on Wednesday, September 30, hours after an apparent agreement with coach Jorge Jesus over his treatment and playing time appeared to have settled tensions between the pair.
The 41-year-old forward departed the squad in Copenhagen shortly after Jesus addressed the situation publicly ahead of Portugal’s Nations League clash against Denmark. Ronaldo later said his decision followed the coach’s press conference and a conversation with Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) president Pedro Proença.
The developments followed Ronaldo’s frustration at being left on the bench during Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway, despite warming up during the match. Jesus acknowledged that Ronaldo was unhappy but said the two had spoken and reached an understanding over his involvement in the next two fixtures.
Jesus said he had told Ronaldo that he would not play against either Norway or Denmark as part of a plan based on the forward’s recovery and the demanding schedule. He said Ronaldo accepted the decision and told him he would follow whatever choice the coach made.
Proença then met Jesus and Ronaldo at the team hotel on Wednesday morning. The meeting followed a conversation between Jesus and Ronaldo the previous day and was described as calm and cordial.
A further account from Spanish journalist Edu Aguirre, a friend of Ronaldo, alleged that Jesus had apologised privately to Ronaldo over the Norway situation and promised to acknowledge the mistake publicly at the press conference. According to Aguirre, Ronaldo accepted the apology but became upset when Jesus did not repeat it publicly. The claim has not been independently confirmed by Ronaldo or the FPF.
Instead, Jesus used the press conference to maintain that there was no unresolved dispute. He confirmed Ronaldo would not start against Denmark and said Gonçalo Ramos would play if everything went according to plan. Jesus also insisted that he remained responsible for team selection and that Ronaldo had not refused to train.
The situation changed soon after the press conference. Ronaldo did not join Portugal’s final training session and subsequently left the camp. The FPF confirmed his departure and said the remaining 24 players would continue preparations for the Denmark and Norway fixtures.
Ronaldo later confirmed the decision himself, saying he had left after Jesus’ press conference and his conversation with Proença. He added that he would tell the Portuguese public the reasons for his departure “in due course.”
The sequence leaves the precise reason for Ronaldo’s departure unresolved, with Jesus presenting the matter as settled while Ronaldo has indicated that he will provide his own account. Portugal face Denmark on Thursday before hosting Norway on Sunday, with Ronaldo absent from the squad.
