In a surprising turn of events within the Portugal national team camp, Cristiano Ronaldo has left the team's residence in Copenhagen, heading to Madrid on his private jet. This comes before the team completes the international break, during which they have two matches remaining.
Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from Portugal came just hours after comments from Jorge Jesus, the national team's coach and Ronaldo's former manager at Al Nassr, who spoke about the absence of a crisis between him and the Portuguese star, while also confirming that he holds the final decision regarding player participation.
Jesus confirmed that Ronaldo did not refuse to train after the match against Norway, explaining that the player underwent a special program in the gym, followed by movement and strength training, before stating that he would participate in training today, Wednesday.
Jesus stated: "Cristiano did not refuse to train. He has been working in the gym, doing movement drills on the pitch, and then doing strength work. He will train today, as it is the fourth day."
However, events took a different turn after Ronaldo left the training headquarters at Parken in a car belonging to the Portuguese Football Federation, deciding to end his presence with the national team during the current break and return to Madrid.
The Portuguese coach relied on João Félix and Gonçalo Ramos in the attacking line, and the duo scored during the match, leading the Portuguese national team to victory, while Cristiano Ronaldo did not receive any playing time.
After the match, Cristiano Ronaldo went straight to the dressing room and did not participate in the following day's training, which Jesus later described as part of the player's usual program.
Jesus said after the match: "I am the coach. I told the player that he would not play, and he would be on the bench. If I need him for 30 minutes, he will play, and if I don't need him, he won't play. No player can change my mind, neither he nor anyone else in football, not even any president can change my mind. Never, no one."
The meeting was held in an attempt to contain the situation following the incident of the national team captain's absence against Norway and his absence from the following day's training, raising widespread questions in Portugal.
Despite Jesus confirming that matters were settled from his perspective, Ronaldo's departure from the camp just hours after those statements suggests that the crisis has not ended in the way the coaching staff expected.
Cristiano Ronaldo has played a prominent role with Portugal throughout his international career, and therefore, developments in his relationship with Jorge Jesus in the upcoming period will be of great interest, especially with the ongoing competitions and upcoming commitments for the national team.
The crisis began after the Norway and Portugal match in the UEFA Nations League, which ended with Portugal winning 2-1, after Jorge Jesus decided to keep Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench for the entire match, despite him participating in warm-ups during the second half. The crisis saw another development on Wednesday morning, after Pedro Proença, the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, changed his plans and traveled to Copenhagen to hold a meeting with Ronaldo and Jorge Jesus.
