CDA News Nigeria
Cristiano Ronaldo has left Portugal’s training camp, and winger Rafael Leão has been given his famous No. 7 shirt for the Nations League clash with Denmark.
CDA News Nigeria reports that Ronaldo said he decided to leave the camp after the coach’s news conference and a conversation with the president of the Portuguese football federation. He has vowed to reveal the truth behind his departure in due course.
Reports of a rift with new head coach Jorge Jesus emerged after Ronaldo was an unused substitute in Sunday’s win over Norway. Jesus had played down the reports, saying there was no issue.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that UEFA’s Nations League rules require each team to name 23 players numbered 1 to 23 for every league-phase match, so the number had to be reassigned. Leão, who previously wore 17, takes the No. 7, and Borussia Dortmund’s Fabio Silva has been added to the squad in Ronaldo’s place.
Portuguese outlet O Jogo reported the decision as irreversible and said he will not return to the national team. Neither the federation nor Ronaldo’s representatives had commented to the Associated Press at the time. The report has not been confirmed by Ronaldo or the federation. Date this story as more information emerges.
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