Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of the Portuguese national team, announced his departure from the Portugal national team camp, confirming that the decision came after consultation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Club: Al-Nassr
The Portugal national team is preparing to face Denmark tomorrow, Thursday, in the third round of matches for Group 4 of the UEFA Nations League.
Cristiano Ronaldo said via his official "Facebook" account: "After the press conference of the national team coach, 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 tell all Portuguese people the reasons that led me to leave the national team, for which I have always dedicated myself."
He concluded, "Now it is 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 in 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 match of the Portugal under-21 team, 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 was staying in Malmö, and was described as taking place in calm and friendly atmospheres.
However, Ronaldo's absence from Wednesday's training opened a new chapter in the crisis, especially since it came minutes after Jesus confirmed the player's participation in the training sessions.
João Félix was the most notable development in the Portugal national team's training session on the eve of the match against Denmark, while Francisco Conceição's absence from the match was confirmed according to Jesus's statement.
The Portugal national team tops Group 4 with 6 points.
