Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Portugal camp after bench row in Copenhagen | OneFootball

Cristiano Ronaldo has left Portugal’s camp in Copenhagen, shocking the country and fuelling debate over whether his 234-cap international career is at an end.

On Wednesday afternoon, as he prepared to train, he arranged for his private jet to fly from Madrid to collect him, then departed. The player said in a post that he left after the head coach’s press conference and a conversation with the federation president, adding he would explain in due time and wishing Portugal and all team-mates good luck.

The flashpoint followed Sunday’s match with Norway, when he warmed up for 30 minutes but was not used. His frustration appeared to centre on that half-hour on the touchline rather than the decision not to play.

Before training on Wednesday, Jorge Jesus set out that he alone decides who plays, said Ronaldo would be on the bench and might be needed after the break, and insisted no player or president would change his mind. He had also said Cristiano would be present for the session, but he was not.

Portugal now face Denmark tonight with the focus squarely on the fallout from their captain’s abrupt exit, rather than the match itself.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”