Ronaldo Won't Play for Portugal Under New Coach Jorge Jesus, per Report

According to a report from ESPN on Tuesday, as cited by www.foxsports.com, the 41-year-old superstar has issued the Portuguese Football Federation an ultimatum, threatening not to return to the national team under Jesus. The ultimatum itself is reported, not confirmed by Ronaldo or the federation.

Ronaldo walked out on Portugal's training camp on Wednesday, hours after Jesus said the veteran star would not start in a game against Denmark in the Nations League.

Ronaldo said after leaving that in due course he would "tell the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons" behind his departure, but has not commented on the situation since.

THE WALKOUT AND BENCHING

The walkout came after the benching decision, according to the source. Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp on Wednesday, hours after Jesus said the veteran star would not start against Denmark in the Nations League.

It was not the first time Jesus had kept Ronaldo out of the starting XI. The coach had left him on the bench in a previous match despite saying he would play.

The exact reason for the walkout is not confirmed beyond the benching context. Ronaldo said after leaving that in due course he would “tell the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons” behind his departure, but has not commented on the situation since.

Portugal’s new coach, Jorge Jesus, stated at the time of his hiring that figuring out Ronaldo’s future was a priority. That task has now become urgent, with the veteran star’s reported ultimatum threatening his international career under the new regime.

Jesus has not backed down. He said Sunday he had no reason to apologize to anyone, and that he would call up Ronaldo again for the next international break if the player wants to come back.

FEDERATION DOWNPLAYS RIFT