Cristiano Ronaldo says he has left the Portuguese international camp and will explain the reasons “in time”.
It comes after head coach Jorge Jesus earlier said there was no rift with the captain, following claims the five-time Ballon d’Or winner had refused to train.
Ronaldo said he considered retiring from international football after the World Cup this summer, but chose to continue as he chases his 1,000 career goals.
He has been included in Jesus’ 25-man squad for the current international break and started the opening Nations League match against Wales.
However, the Al-Nassr striker did not feature in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway in Olso on Sunday and did not join his teammates in walking in front of the visiting fans at the final whistle.
Instead, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United player headed to the dressing room, leading to reports that he was unhappy with the manager.
Speaking to the media ahead of Portugal’s Nations League match against Denmark on Thursday, Jesus said: “There were no incidents.
“Any player – and I was a player myself – when you spend 20 or 30 minutes warming up and you don’t continue, no one is happy about it.”
Jesus said he told Ronaldo before the match that he would not start, but could be brought on later in the match.
“Afterwards, as a coach, I decided not to bring him in. It’s not a big deal,” he added.
Former Benfica manager Jesus also dismissed suggestions that Ronaldo refused to train on Tuesday, saying the 41-year-old instead needed to do individual exercises for “mobility” and “strengthening” but would train as normal on Wednesday.
However, Ronaldo did not join his teammates on the pitch in Denmark, with Portuguese media sharing a video of him leaving the Parken Stadium alongside two members of backroom staff.
And the player then took to Instagram to announce his departure.
“After the national team press conference and following a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I decided to leave the national team training camp,” he wrote.
“In time, I will tell all Portuguese people the truth about the reasons that motivated me to leave.”
He added that he wished his teammates good luck in their upcoming matches..
Goncalo Ramos scored the winner against Norway and Jesus had said the AC Milan striker would be preferred over Ronaldo again against Denmark.
“If I need (Ronaldo), he will come. If I don’t need him, he won’t.”
Gn sports
