Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo made a cryptic statement about his departure from Portugal’s national team camp prior to the club’s UEFA Nations League match against Denmark on Thursday, adding more drama to a situation involving one of the sport’s biggest names.
Ronaldo left the national team camp on Wednesday following growing feelings that there was a rift between the global icon and head coach Jorge Jesus, which the latter said was not true.
However, Ronaldo didn’t play in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway on Sunday in the UEFA Nations League, and he has not trained with the team since. Portuguese media shared video of Ronaldo leaving Parken Stadium on Wednesday, flanked by members of the Portugal staff, according to the BBC.
“After the press conference of the national team, and following a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have made the decision to leave the national team training camp,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram Wednesday afternoon.
“In due course, I will tell all the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons that led me to leave the national team, to which I always dedicated myself. Now is the time to wish Portugal and all my teammates good luck, without exception.”
The comments would certainly seem to suggest that there is more to the story than is being told right now.
The footballer started in the 1-0 win over Wales last week
Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Jorge Jesus said Ronaldo would not start on Thursday and denied any issue between the two.
“It seems like there was an issue between us, but there was no issue,” Jesus said. “I’m the one who makes the decisions and everybody knows that.”
The Portugal coach had said he did make a mistake in allowing Ronaldo to warm up in the game against Norway, and acknowledged that he had originally told the 41-year-old that he would be playing.
But he stopped short of apologizing for changing his mind.
“I can promise whatever I want, I’m the coach,” Jesus said. “No player will ever make a decision for me.”
