Ronaldo storms off after Portugal bench snub as federation calls emergency summit

Cristiano Ronaldo skipped training and sparked an emergency federation summit after being left unused throughout Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League win over Norway in Oslo on Sunday — a result that contradicted his own public pledge to accept whatever role manager Jorge Jesus asked of him.

Ronaldo, 41, had reportedly been assured by Jesus before kick-off that he would come on as a substitute and earn his 235th international cap. When the final whistle blew with him still on the bench, the Portugal captain walked straight down the tunnel without acknowledging the travelling supporters who had watched him warm up for much of the match.

Goncalo Ramos, who started in Ronaldo’s place, scored the winning goal to preserve Portugal’s perfect start to the Nations League campaign — a detail that will do little to ease the tension surrounding the country’s all-time leading scorer.

On Thursday, Ronaldo skipped the squad’s training session in Malmo ahead of their fixture against Denmark. He was spotted walking onto the pitch at the Eleda Stadium before a brief conversation with Jesus, then returning to the hotel. The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) attributed his absence to the venue lacking the specialist equipment he requires for individual training.

FPF president Pedro Proenca has since torn up his schedule to fly directly to Copenhagen for hastily arranged talks with both Ronaldo and Jesus. Proenca had not been due to arrive in Denmark until later in the week. Portuguese outlet Record described the atmosphere within the camp as “tense and uncomfortable.”

Jesus, who managed Ronaldo at Al-Nassr last season, publicly denied any breakdown in their relationship while acknowledging the decision not to use his captain. “I did not realise he was upset,” the manager said after the Norway match. “Only he can answer that. What is certain is that not playing him does not mean I do not rely on him. In fact, before the match, I told him: ‘I will not start you, but I will bring you on as a substitute.’ This is football: it imposes its own rules, and in this particular case, there was no justification for changing the striker, bearing in mind that we have a match in Denmark and that he may be the first choice for it.”

The episode sits awkwardly alongside a statement Ronaldo made just days earlier after joining up with his international team-mates. “I am here to help, whether I play or not,” he said. “I am just one among many. It has always been that way and it will remain so. I will do whatever the coach asks of me: play, come off, or even not play.”

Portugal face Denmark in their next Nations League fixture, with Jesus hinting that Ronaldo could return to the starting line-up — though the outcome of Proenca’s emergency talks is likely to shape the mood inside the camp before then.