Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain of the Portuguese national team, announced his departure from the Portugal camp, confirming that the decision came after consultation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Club: Al-Nassr
The Portuguese national team is preparing to face Denmark tomorrow, Thursday, in the third round of Group 4 matches in the UEFA Nations League.
Cristiano Ronaldo said via his official "Facebook" account: "After the national team coach's press conference, and following a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I decided to leave the national team camp."
He continued, "In due time, I will inform all Portuguese people of the reasons that led me to leave the national team, for which I have always dedicated myself."
He concluded, "Now is the time to wish Portugal and all my teammates success, without exception."
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, at a time when all his teammates, except Francisco Conceição, were present on the pitch due to a dispute with their coach Jorge Jesus.
As controversy surrounding Ronaldo's absence escalated, Pedro Proença, the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, decided to change his plans and join the senior national team camp, having abandoned attending the Portugal U21 match, and returned to Denmark to hold an urgent meeting with Jesus and Ronaldo.
The meeting was held on Wednesday morning at the hotel where the Portuguese national team is staying in Malmö, and it was described as taking place in calm and friendly atmospheres.
However, Ronaldo's absence from Wednesday's training session opened a new chapter in the crisis, especially since it occurred minutes after Jesus confirmed the player's participation in training.
João Félix was the most notable addition to the Portuguese national team's training session on the eve of the match against Denmark, while Francisco Conceição's absence from the game was confirmed by Jesus.
The Portuguese national team tops Group 4 with 6 points.
