Cristiano Ronaldo row reaches Portugal government as prime minister contacts Jorge Jesus

Cristiano Ronaldo’s sudden departure from the Portugal camp has escalated into a national issue, with Prime Minister Luis Montenegro contacting Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca to arrange a meeting with head coach Jorge Jesus.

Ronaldo left the squad on Wednesday, with tensions reportedly growing at the Portugal camp just hours before the team’s Nations League meeting with Denmark on Thursday evening.

The dispute began when Ronaldo remained on the bench throughout Portugal’s previous Nations League match against Norway, which ended in a 2-1 victory for the Portuguese side. The decision reportedly angered the Al Nassr captain.

Ronaldo then refused to take part in training after the Norway game. He subsequently held talks with Jesus and the situation appeared to have calmed, but tensions returned after the manager’s pre-match news conference before the Denmark fixture.

Jesus said no player would change his thinking, and that no other person in football would do so either. Ronaldo then left the Portugal camp and travelled to Madrid.

Prime minister contacts federation president

Portuguese newspaper Record reported on Thursday afternoon that the dispute had now reached the highest levels of the country’s political establishment.

According to the newspaper, Montenegro spoke to Proenca to arrange a meeting with Jesus following Ronaldo’s departure from the national team camp. It said the prime minister wanted to speak to the manager because of the good relationship between the two men.

Portuguese broadcaster SIC also reported that Montenegro had spoken directly to Ronaldo about the situation.

The reports did not state whether the proposed meeting between Montenegro and Jesus had taken place, or give details of the conversation between the prime minister and Ronaldo.

Portugal are due to face Denmark in the third round of the Nations League on Thursday, but Ronaldo’s departure has dominated coverage in the Portuguese media and cast a shadow over preparations for the match.