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The head of the Portuguese Football Federation, Pedro Proença, has arrived in Copenhagen for urgent talks aimed at resolving the reported tension between Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and head coach Jorge Jesus.
The move follows reports that Jesus had initially decided against starting the 41-year-old Ronaldo in Portugal’s Nations League away match against Norway, according to A Bola. The report was published by News.Az.
Jesus was reportedly planning to introduce Ronaldo for about 30 minutes in the second half, but the forward remained on the bench throughout the match.
It marked the first time in 18 years that Ronaldo had failed to feature in an official match for Portugal.
The decision was followed by another development after the final whistle, when Ronaldo reportedly went straight to the dressing room without acknowledging the supporters.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner then trained individually in the gym on September 29, adding to the attention surrounding his situation with the national team.
With Portugal’s next Nations League fixture approaching, Proença’s intervention could provide an opportunity to address the reported disagreement between the veteran forward and Jesus.
Portugal are scheduled to face Denmark on October 1 in the Nations League, with the match coming at a crucial stage of the group campaign.
After two rounds of matches, Portugal lead Group A4 with six points, while Denmark and Norway are three points behind.
Ronaldo’s situation has therefore become a major talking point ahead of the Denmark encounter, particularly following his unexpected absence against Norway and the subsequent individual training session.
