Ronaldo leaves Portugal national team base amid conflict with coach

Scandal in the "Seleção" camp

Cristiano Ronaldo found himself at the centre of a major scandal after leaving the Portugal national team's base. The cause was a sharp conflict between the team captain and head coach Jorge Jesus.

The incident was reported by European media, including the Spanish newspaper Marca, as well as representatives of the Portuguese Football Federation.

Source of tension: match against Norway

Tension within the team rose after the Nations League match against Norway held on 27 September. The Portuguese won 2-1, but the 41-year-old Ronaldo spent the entire match on the substitutes' bench.

This was the first time in official national team matches since 2008 that this had happened. After the final whistle, the player did not join the celebrations with the fans and immediately went to the dressing room.

Coach's position and subsequent events

Jorge Jesus explained his decision with tactical considerations. He noted that he had planned to bring the veteran onto the field for approximately 30 minutes, but the course of events forced him to change his plans. The coach emphasised that he counts on the player in the future.

However, before the next match against Denmark, the manager publicly underlined his exclusive right to determine the lineup. Gonçalo Ramos took the field again.

On 30 September, Ronaldo missed the final training session. The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed the forward's absence without specifying the reasons. Meanwhile, a video of his departure from the base appeared online. According to Marca, the player planned to fly to Madrid on a private jet.

Management intervention

Due to the crisis, Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca arrived in Denmark to hold negotiations with the coach and the player.

At a press conference, Jorge Jesus denied the existence of a deep conflict and stated that the striker is ready to follow any instructions from the staff.

Possible end of international career

There have been no official statements about ending his career with the national team yet. However, according to information from several sources, the forward no longer intends to play for the national team under the current manager.

If this information is confirmed, the September match against Wales could be the last for the legendary player in the "Seleção" squad.