Jorge Jesus spent much of Wednesday afternoon trying to kill the Cristiano Ronaldo story. Within minutes of his press conference ending, it was alive again.
The Portugal coach insisted there was no conflict with his captain, revealed that Ronaldo had already agreed not to play against Denmark and said the 41-year-old would return to training later that day. Ronaldo then arrived at Parken, spoke briefly with Jesus near the bench — and left the stadium in a Portuguese Football Federation van while his team-mates trained.
It was Ronaldo's third consecutive day without taking part in a full team session and inevitably reopened a question Jesus had just spent several minutes attempting to close: what exactly is happening between Portugal's captain and his manager?
Jesus: “Don't create a problem where there isn't one”
The controversy began in Oslo on Sunday. Ronaldo was left on the bench throughout Portugal's 2–1 victory over Norway, the first competitive international since Euro 2008 in which he had been an unused substitute.
That alone was unusual. What happened afterwards made it more interesting.
Ronaldo went straight down the tunnel after the final whistle rather than joining his team-mates in acknowledging the travelling supporters. Jesus subsequently said he had originally considered introducing Ronaldo for around half an hour but changed his mind because of how the match developed, with Gonçalo Ramos playing well and scoring the winner.
Ronaldo then missed group training on the following days. The Portuguese federation explained at least one absence by saying he had returned to the team hotel for individual gym work because the stadium did not have a piece of equipment he required, while reports in Portugal increasingly suggested his frustration went beyond fitness management.
The situation became serious enough for FPF president Pedro Proença to change his schedule and travel to Copenhagen, although reports subsequently claimed Ronaldo and Jesus had already spoken and resolved their disagreement before Proença arrived.
On Wednesday, Jesus finally gave his version.
He revealed that he had told Ronaldo beforehand that he would not play against either Norway or Denmark, explaining that the plan was part of managing the veteran forward through four international matches in 11 days. According to Jesus, Ronaldo accepted the decision and told him he was available for whatever role the coach wanted — playing, sitting on the bench or even watching from the stands.
Jesus also acknowledged why Ronaldo may have been irritated in Oslo. Despite their original plan, the coach sent him to warm up for around 20 or 30 minutes before eventually deciding not to bring him on.
“No player is happy” after warming up for that long without playing, Jesus argued, adding that the same would apply to Pelé or Diego Maradona. But he was equally emphatic about who makes the final decision: “No player will ever change my ideas.”
Then Ronaldo left
That should have been the end of Wednesday's Ronaldo story. It wasn't.
Jesus told reporters that, provided nothing unexpected happened, Ronaldo would train with the team. Shortly afterwards, however, A Bola reported that Cristiano left Parken in a black FPF van accompanied by two federation employees while almost all of his team-mates were already on the pitch.
RTP also reported that Ronaldo's private plane was preparing to fly from Madrid to Copenhagen, immediately fuelling speculation over whether the captain could leave the Portugal camp altogether. As of Wednesday evening, however, there has been no official confirmation that Ronaldo is leaving the squad or that the aircraft is being used to take him away from Denmark.
That distinction matters. There is enough evidence to say something unusual is happening; there is not yet enough to say Ronaldo has walked out on Portugal.
What is certain is that he will not start against Denmark. Jesus has already confirmed that, if everything goes according to plan, Gonçalo Ramos will retain his place at centre-forward.
And so Portugal arrive at Thursday's Nations League match with an unusual contradiction. Their coach insists there is “no Ronaldo case”, Ronaldo apparently told him he accepts whatever decision is made, and reports suggest the pair have already cleared the air.
Yet Portugal's captain has now gone three days without training with the team — and minutes after his manager publicly predicted his return, Cristiano Ronaldo climbed into a van and left Parken.
Whatever it is, the story is not over yet.
Published by Patrick Jane
30.09.2026