Cristiano Ronaldo exits Portugal squad amid speculation over coach feud

Cristiano Ronaldo has left Portugal’s national team camp ahead of Thursday’s UEFA Nations League match against Denmark, shortly after coach Jorge Jesus confirmed he would not start.

The 41-year-old announced his departure on Wednesday following days of speculation about tensions with Jesus after he remained on the bench during Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway.

"After the press conference of the national team, and following a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have made the decision to leave the national team training camp," Ronaldo wrote on Instagram, according to ESPN.

"In due course, I will tell all the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons that led me to leave the national team, to which I always dedicated myself.”

Ronaldo had not trained with the squad since Sunday.

Jesus earlier said Goncalo Ramos was expected to start against Denmark and insisted there was no dispute with Ronaldo.

"It seems like there was an issue between us, but there was no issue. I'm the one who makes the decisions and everybody knows that,” Jesus told reporters.

Ronaldo, international football’s all-time leading men's scorer with 146 goals, has not said whether his departure will extend beyond the current international break.