Revealed: Cristiano Ronaldo could be slapped with a six-month BAN after walking out on Portugal – as the country’s prime minister reveals talks with the ‘betrayed’ 41-year-old star
Cristiano Ronaldo could be facing a ban of up to six months from the Portugal national team after sensationally storming out of the team’s training camp amid a row with manager Jorge Jesus.
The star, 41, landed in Madrid in the early hours of Thursday morning after flying from Copenhagen, where Portugal are due to face Denmark, on his private jet.
He had been seen leaving the Parken Stadium in the Danish capital on Wednesday after missing a third consecutive training session.
Ronaldo later confirmed in a statement on Instagram that he had left the team’s camp because of comments made by Jesus in his press conference.
The Portugal boss said the captain would not start the Denmark clash, just days after sitting on the bench for the entirety of the 2-1 win in Norway, but insisted there was no issue between the two.
And reports in Portugal claim Ronaldo could be suspended from playing for his country for between one and six months if he is found to have ‘abandoned’ the team.
Cristiano Ronaldo (left) sensationally walked out on Portugal amid a dispute with his manager
The Portuguese Football Federation’s disciplinary code states: ‘Any player who, having been regularly called up, unjustifiably abandons or fails to appear for training, a match, or any activity of the national teams or related to the sporting representation of the FPF or Portugal, will be sanctioned with a suspension of one to six months.’
Ronaldo’s decision to quit the Portuguese camp has sparked suggestions he may retire from international duty and has even prompted the intervention of the country’s Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro.
Record reports Montenegro has discussed the issue with Ronaldo, as well as Jesus and Pedro Proenca, the head of the Portuguese FA.
It is unclear whether Montenegro was attempting to resolve a dispute described as an ‘earthquake’ in Portugal, or if he was merely wanting to be briefed.
Speaking before the Denmark game, Jesus insisted he had a ‘completely’ clear conscience amid the Ronaldo saga. ‘It was a frantic few hours because we had two games,’ he added.
‘Now we have another one… Besides, I’ve been in football for many years and I know I didn’t do anything to prevent the situation from continuing as before.’
Footage published by A Bola showed Jesus and Proenca being booed by a small group of fans who had gathered outside the team’s hotel in Copenhagen before the team made the short journey to Parken Stadium.
Reports in Portugal claim the dispute in the national team camp has reached Prime Minister Luis Montenegro
Ronaldo’s sister Elma has come out in support of her brother after his shock exit from the Portugal camp (Source: Elma_Official/Instagram)
Ronaldo’s sister, Elma Aveiro, had earlier fanned the flames of controversy by claiming Portuguese people ‘deserve mediocrity’ because of their treatment of the country’s record goalscorer.
‘The national team deserved better structuring,’ she wrote on Instagram. ‘The Portuguese press deserved more competence and fewer guesses.
‘As for the Portuguese… well, they don’t deserve the best in anything. We are envious, contemptuous, ignorant, and we deserve to return to the mediocrity we always had in football before CR7. Thank you for everything CR7!’
Elma was not the only supporter from inside Ronaldo’s camp to suggest that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner had been treated unfairly, with Spanish journalist Edu Aguirre – who is friends with the Al-Nassr superstar – claiming he had been ‘betrayed’ by Jesus.
‘There was a meeting yesterday, Tuesday night,’ he told Spanish programme El Chiringuito. ‘A meeting between the Federation president, the coach, and Cristiano. Jorge Jesus apologized to Cristiano for the disregard shown in making him warm up for 30 minutes instead of playing him.
‘And not only did he apologize privately, but he also told him he would apologize publicly, that he would publicly admit his mistake. That’s Jorge Jesus’s promise to Cristiano. And then he goes to the press conference and tells this many lies that nobody believes.
‘That’s why Cristiano explodes, because he feels betrayed. There’s nothing more to it, it’s really like that. Your coach comes to you privately: “Look, see, this is how it was, you understand me, okay, I didn’t manage the situation well, we’re in this together, I’m sorry. If there’s a press conference, I’ll clarify everything, I’ll apologize, don’t worry, everything will be fine, everything will be resolved.” Then you go to the press conference 12 hours later and leave Cristiano still…
‘Worse, you’re acting tough, saying that you’re the one in charge and that Cristiano is just another player. Go home and move on. That’s why I say: betrayal.’
Ronaldo confirmed on Wednesday night that he had left the camp amid a row with Jorge Jesus
The captain confirmed he had withdrawn from the squad because of Jesus’s comments
Ronaldo held talks with Jesus and Proenca on Wednesday morning, a meeting initially described as amicable.
But the rift between Ronaldo and his manager appeared to deepen after Jesus’s press conference.
Jesus admitted Ronaldo had been ‘angry’ with him, with footage showing the captain walking off down the tunnel after sitting out the victory in Norway.
Jesus, who also worked with Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, said: ‘There was no incident whatsoever.
‘Any player – and I was a player myself – when you spend 20 or 30 minutes warming up and then don’t get on, no-one is happy about that.
‘Afterwards, as coach, I decided not to bring him on. It’s nothing to make a fuss about.’
Jesus also suggested Goncalo Ramos would keep his place in the side ahead of Ronaldo for the Denmark match. ‘If I need [Ronaldo], he’ll come on,’ he said. ‘If I don’t need him, he won’t.’
Jesus had originally planned to bring on the veteran striker for a 30-minute cameo but then decided to leave him on the bench, which has seemingly sparked the feud.
It is an inauspicious start to the relationship between Jesus and Ronaldo, who opted not to retire from international duty after the World Cup.
Only a week ago, Ronaldo reiterated his commitment to the cause, saying: ‘I had a conversation with our president, with our coach (about his future).
‘I still believe that I’m able to help the national team to reach what they want, and will finish when I feel like I’m not doing anything here.
‘I think I can give to the national team my support, not only through the goals, but also outside of football.
‘This is a new young generation. But for me the basic point is to be able on the pitch to score the goals and to help the team win games.’
Ronaldo will turn 42 in February and has scored three goals in five games for Al-Nassr so far in the Saudi Pro League this season.
READ MORE: Finally, Portugal have found the guts to stand up to Cristiano Ronaldo, writes OLIVER HOLT
