He chased Ronaldo to the airport! Jorge Jesus made one last attempt to stop Cristiano from leaving
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo saga reached the airport.
Details: According to Marca, Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus and Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença followed Cristiano Ronaldo to the airport in Copenhagen in a final attempt to convince the legendary captain to remain with the national team. The pair reportedly spoke to Ronaldo before his departure, but the 41-year-old stood by his decision, boarded the plane and left Denmark.
The dramatic airport episode followed Ronaldo's sudden departure from Portugal's camp. Shortly after Jorge Jesus' press conference, the forward confirmed that he had decided to leave after a conversation with Pedro Proença. Cristiano added that he would explain the reasons behind his decision to the Portuguese public in due course.
The Portuguese Football Federation subsequently confirmed Ronaldo's departure and announced that preparations for the upcoming Nations League matches would continue with the remaining 24 players. Despite intense speculation over the captain's future, neither Ronaldo nor the federation has officially announced his retirement from international football.
It is worth noting that Ronaldo remains both Portugal's record goalscorer and their most-capped player. The 41-year-old has scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for the national team, records that place him at the top of men's international football in both categories.
Reminder: Portugal issues official statement over Ronaldo walkout
Steven Perez
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