Is Cristiano Ronaldo retiring from international football? Here’s what we know
(Courtesy : Getty)
Ronaldo won’t participate in the game against Denmark.
Portugal’s national squad received a surprise this week. Cristiano Ronaldo left the squad’s camp in Copenhagen and flew to Madrid on his private plane, raising serious concerns about the captain’s future with the national team and whether these actions may signal the end of his international career.
His departure happened only minutes after Jorge Jesus, the Portuguese national team’s head coach, rejected the existence of a conflict with his captain and even said unequivocally that Ronaldo would participate in Wednesday’s training.
What occurred next was very different. Cristiano Ronaldo departed the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen in a black car belonging to the Portuguese Football Federation, without participating in the practice.
Jesus said that a meeting with Ronaldo was held on Tuesday evening and that all was resolved before the end of the day. However, he made it clear that his technical judgements would not be influenced by his captain’s name or position.
Cristiano Ronaldo set to miss rest of Nations League game for Portugal
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Ronaldo’s walkout from the camp a few hours after those words reignited the problem and increased doubt regarding the future steps.
Walking out of training before the match against Denmark raises serious concerns regarding Ronaldo’s future with Portugal, especially because the captain is 41 and entering a critical juncture in his international career.
Has Cristiano Ronaldo retired from the Portugal national team?
According to O Jogo, Cristiano Ronaldo has decided to retire from the Portuguese national team.
O Jogo’s report reads, “Cristiano Ronaldo has made an irreversible decision: he will no longer represent Portugal. The match against Wales was his last for the national team. Cristiano Ronaldo, who has already left the hotel where the Portugal national team is staying in Copenhagen, Denmark, has made his decision.”
Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portuguese Federation have not made any public announcements about his decision to retire from international football. For the time being, discussion about the end of his national team career is more of a possibility than a firm choice.
However, the moment of the exit, as well as everything that came before it, including disagreements over his role against Norway, his absence from training, and the critical meeting that pulled him together with the federation president and coach, raises concerns about Ronaldo’s future with Portugal.
Has Cristiano Ronaldo retired from the national team?
No, he has not.
Will he play against Denmark?
No, he has left the national team camp.
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