Cristiano Ronaldo has left Portugal's training camp in Copenhagen after a turbulent few days surrounding his involvement with the national team, promising to explain the reasons for his decision at a later date.
The 41-year-old announced his departure on Instagram shortly after Portugal coach Jorge Jesus addressed reporters ahead of Thursday's Nations League meeting with Denmark. Ronaldo said he had spoken with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença before deciding to leave the squad.
His exit followed a period of uncertainty over his role under Jesus.
Ronaldo started Portugal's 1-0 victory over Wales in the opening match of the international break, but he was left on the bench throughout Sunday's 2-1 win against Norway.
Jesus had previously told Ronaldo that he would not start against Norway but could be introduced from the bench. The striker warmed up during the match, yet the manager ultimately decided not to bring him on.
Jesus subsequently said he understood that a player could be unhappy after warming up for an extended period without being used. However, he insisted there had been no confrontation between himself and Ronaldo and rejected reports that the forward had refused to train.
The situation nevertheless intensified after Ronaldo continued to work away from the main group. The FPF confirmed that he did not take part in Wednesday's final training session before the Denmark match, while reports from Portugal showed him leaving Copenhagen's Parken Stadium in a vehicle belonging to the federation.
Jesus had told reporters before the session that Ronaldo would train normally and again dismissed suggestions that the captain had refused to work with the squad.
Instead, Ronaldo subsequently confirmed that he had decided to leave the camp.
In his message, the Portugal captain said his decision followed his conversation with Proença and indicated that he would eventually reveal the reasons behind his departure to the Portuguese public. He also wished his teammates well for their remaining fixtures.
The circumstances have prompted renewed speculation about Ronaldo's relationship with Jesus, although neither the player nor the coach has publicly confirmed the nature of any disagreement.
Ronaldo's future with Portugal had already been a subject of discussion after the veteran forward spoke about his international career following the summer's World Cup. He has continued playing at international level while pursuing the landmark of 1,000 career goals.
Jesus, meanwhile, had already indicated that AC Milan striker Gonçalo Ramos would again be his preferred option for the Denmark match. The coach said his decision would depend on what he believed the team required during the game.
Ronaldo's departure means Portugal will face Denmark without their captain as the team continues its Nations League campaign.
For now, the precise reason behind Ronaldo's decision remains undisclosed. His promise to explain the situation later leaves the circumstances surrounding his departure open to further clarification from the player himself.
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