Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of the Portuguese national team, missed the team's training session for the third consecutive day, despite head coach Jorge Jesus confirming just minutes earlier that the player would participate in practice.
According to the Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Ronaldo left Parken Stadium in the Danish capital Copenhagen aboard a car belonging to the Portuguese Football Federation, while all his teammates except Francisco Conceição were present on the pitch.
The newspaper obtained a video showing the moment Ronaldo left the stadium heading towards a black car, accompanied by two officials from the Portuguese Football Federation.
Jesus had confirmed during the press conference held just minutes before the training session that Ronaldo would take part in the drills.
Jesus said at the press conference: "Yesterday, Ronaldo did not refuse to train. Francisco Conceição did not train because he was injured, and João Félix because we tried to reduce his physical workload, whereas Ronaldo trained in the gym. Today, Wednesday, he will train. It is the fourth day, so he will train."
Jesus addressed Ronaldo's situation, emphasizing that his tactical decisions would not change due to any player, even the national team captain.
Jesus also confirmed that Gonçalo Ramos would start against Denmark.
Ronaldo had appeared on the training pitch for a long time the previous day in the Swedish city of Malmö, before returning to the hotel in a car belonging to the Portuguese Football Federation.
At the time, the Portuguese Football Federation explained that Ronaldo returned to the accommodation because the gym at the stadium was not equipped with specific equipment necessary to carry out the special training program designed for him.
As controversy over Ronaldo's absence escalated, Pedro Proença, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, decided to change his plans and join the senior national team camp, having given up attending the Portugal U21 match, and returned to Denmark to hold an urgent meeting with Jesus and Ronaldo.
The meeting took place on Wednesday morning at the hotel where the Portuguese national team was staying in Malmö, and was described as having occurred in calm and friendly atmospheres.
However, Ronaldo's absence from Wednesday's training opened a new chapter in the crisis, especially since it came just minutes after Jesus confirmed the player's participation in the drills.
So far, no official explanation has been issued by the Portuguese national team regarding the reason for Ronaldo's absence from Wednesday's training.
João Félix was the most notable development in the Portuguese national team's training on the eve of the match against Denmark, while Francisco Conceição's absence from the game was confirmed according to Jesus.
The Portuguese national team is preparing to face Denmark in the third round of the UEFA Nations League.
