Cristiano Ronaldo walks out on Portugal's camp and promises to explain why 'in time'

[Inland Sienna]

Cristiano Ronaldo has left Portugal's training camp in Copenhagen ahead of their Nations League match against Denmark, and the fallout is dividing opinion back home. The 41 year old was an unused substitute in Sunday's 2-1 win over Norway, despite reportedly being promised minutes off the bench. He then trained alone in the gym on Monday and Tuesday, which set off speculation about a rift with manager Jorge Jesus. By Wednesday he was gone

The timeline is messy. Jesus said on Wednesday that Ronaldo would be training, and hours later video showed him leaving the stadium. Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca had flown to Copenhagen on Tuesday, and local media reported Ronaldo was heading for a private flight to Madrid. That evening he posted a statement on Instagram

In it, Ronaldo said that after the national team's press conference and a conversation with the federation president, he had decided to leave the camp. He added that in time he would tell all Portuguese people the truth about the reasons behind his decision. That last line has only fuelled more speculation about what was said behind closed doors. Few lines have been picked apart so much in Portuguese media this week

Jesus has tried to play it down. He denied there was any conflict, insisting that Ronaldo did not refuse anything. He quoted Ronaldo as telling him that it was up to the manager to decide, and that he would play or sit in the stands as asked. The remaining 24 players carry on preparing for Denmark and the return match against Norway

It is a sad way for things to look at the end of an incredible international career, if that is what this is. Ronaldo has been Portugal's talisman for two decades, but at 41 the question of his role was always going to come up. Is Jesus right to manage him like any other player? Or should a legend of his stature be handled differently? And do you think we have seen the last of him in a Portugal shirt?

Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal walkout divides a nation as Jorge Jesus asserts controlwww.theguardian.com