Ronaldo walks out on Portugal squad after federation president and manager fail airport plea

Cristiano Ronaldo has left Portugal’s Nations League squad in Copenhagen, with federation president Pedro Proenca and manager Jorge Jesus failing to talk him out of the decision even after pursuing him to the airport, Spanish newspaper Marca reported on Wednesday.

Ronaldo announced his departure on social media following a conversation with Proenca, casting serious doubt over his international future. The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed the 41-year-old forward had left the camp, with Thursday’s Nations League fixture against Denmark in Copenhagen still to come.

According to Marca, Ronaldo had been due to train with the squad at Parken Stadium but left before the session began, returned to the team hotel to collect his belongings, and then headed to the airport for a private flight to Madrid. Jesus and Proenca followed him there in a last-ditch attempt to reverse his decision, but were unable to change his mind.

The FPF disciplinary code states that players who leave the national squad without permission face a potential suspension of between one and six months from international duty.

The episode unfolded just hours after Jesus had publicly insisted Ronaldo would take part in Wednesday’s training and denied any rift between them. The manager did acknowledge a private conversation with the Al-Nassr forward on Tuesday, the day after Ronaldo was left out of Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway, and admitted the player was angry with him — though he described the matter as “water under the bridge”.

In his social media statement, Ronaldo said: “After the National Team Coach’s press conference, and following a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I made the decision to leave the National Team camp. In due time, I will tell the truth to all Portuguese people about the reasons that motivated my departure from the national team, to which I have always dedicated myself. Now is the time to wish good luck to Portugal and to all my teammates, without exception.”

The FPF did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Marca report. Ronaldo is Portugal’s all-time record goalscorer and has represented the national side for more than two decades.