Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has denied there is any rift with captain Cristiano Ronaldo following claims that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner had refused to train.
Ronaldo did not feature in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway in Oslo on Sunday, and did not join his team-mates in going over to the visiting supporters at the final whistle. The Al-Nassr forward instead headed to the changing rooms, prompting reports that he was unhappy with the manager.
Speaking to the media before Portugal’s Nations League match against Denmark on Thursday, Jesus rejected that interpretation. “There was no incident whatsoever,” he said. “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.” The coach, who previously worked with Ronaldo at Saudi club Al-Nassr, explained that he had told the forward before the Norway game that he would not be starting but might be brought on later. “Afterwards, as coach, I decided not to bring him on. It’s nothing to make a fuss about,” he added.
Jesus also dismissed suggestions that Ronaldo had refused to train on Tuesday, saying the 41-year-old had instead needed individual exercises focused on “mobility” and “strengthening”, and would train as normal on Wednesday. That plan did not play out as described, however: Ronaldo did not join his team-mates on the pitch in Denmark, with Portuguese media sharing a video of him leaving Parken stadium alongside two members of the backroom staff. Those reports also said his private jet was heading to Copenhagen.
On the pitch, Goncalo Ramos scored the winner against Norway, and Jesus confirmed the AC Milan striker would again be preferred to Ronaldo against Denmark. “If everything goes according to plan, it will be Goncalo who plays,” Jesus said. “If I need [Ronaldo], he’ll come on. If I don’t need him, he won’t.”