09/30/26 02:30:00
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09/30 14:29 CDT Cristiano Ronaldo walks out of Portugal camp after being told
he won't start against Denmark
Cristiano Ronaldo walks out of Portugal camp after being told he won't start
against Denmark
By TALES AZZONI
AP Sports Writer
Cristiano Ronaldo has walked out of Portugal's training camp on Wednesday,
hours after coach Jorge Jesus said the star forward would not start the game
against Denmark in the Nations League on Thursday.
Ronaldo said that "in time" he would "tell the Portuguese people the truth
about the reasons" behind his departure.
"Following the national team coach's news conference, and after a conversation
with the president of the Portuguese football federation, I decided to leave
the national team's training camp," he said on Instagram, adding that he has
always "dedicated" himself to the side.
Jesus had said in the pre-game news conference he was not planning to start
Ronaldo, but dismissed the notion there was a feud between the pair.
Jesus said every player knows the coach makes the decisions, and that Ronaldo
told him he would abide with whatever choices he makes.
The coach added the "rules are the same for everyone" and that Gonalo Ramos
would start up front against Denmark if everything went to plan.
"I don't know what's going to happen in the game," Jesus said. "If we need him
(Ronaldo) to play (at some point), he'll play. If not, he won't."
Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in men's international soccer with 146
goals and pursuing the milestone of 1,000 career goals, didn't play on Sunday
in Portugal's 2-1 win over Norway. He has not trained with the rest of the
group since, sparking widespread rumors about a possible feud with Jesus.
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