Ronaldo’s Training Status Clarified by Portugal Coach
In a recent statement, Portugal’s football coach Jorge Jesus addressed concerns regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s training attendance. On Wednesday, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) confirmed that Ronaldo did not participate in the final training session before Portugal’s Nations League match against Denmark.
Reports from Portuguese newspaper A Bola included a video showing Ronaldo leaving Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium in an FPF vehicle. The publication noted that this occurred shortly after Coach Jesus indicated that Ronaldo would be involved in the training session.
Additionally, Spanish media outlet Marca reported that Ronaldo planned to take a private flight to Madrid soon after this incident.
The FPF verified to news agencies that Ronaldo indeed skipped Wednesday’s training, but his representatives did not provide immediate comments on the situation.
Ronaldo missed Portugal’s recent 2-1 victory over Norway. Coach Jesus initially intended to use Ronaldo as a substitute but ultimately chose not to bring him onto the field. Instead, Ronaldo spent time in the gym during the following days, although he was not injured.
At a press conference before the training session, Jesus urged reporters not to create controversy, explaining that it is common for players to miss training after a match. “He didn’t refuse. He’s going to train today,” Jesus stated. “It’s the fourth day, so he’s going to train. And he didn’t refuse to train. Do you really believe he would do that? Not Cristiano.”
Jesus further clarified that there was no issue, despite having spoken to Ronaldo about the matter. “They made me discuss something that wasn’t even a problem. There was nothing to talk about,” said Jesus. “He told me, ‘I’m here for you to decide. If you want me to play, I’ll play. If you want me to sit, I’ll sit.'”
Pedro Proenca, the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, arrived in Copenhagen on Tuesday. According to A Bola, Proenca adjusted his schedule to meet with both Jesus and Ronaldo ahead of the Nations League match.
Ronaldo holds the record as Portugal’s top scorer with 146 goals and has made 234 appearances, making him their most-capped player. In a press conference last week, Ronaldo expressed his frustrations, stating that the media has been trying to undermine him for years. He also indicated he would be willing to leave “today” if the coach did not include him in the squad.
