Soccer-Fernandes rejects talk of Portugal rift after Ronaldo's abrupt departure

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Portugal v Croatia - Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada - July 2, 2026 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal's Bruno Fernandes during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo

Oct 3 (Reuters) - Bruno Fernandes said on Saturday ⁠he had spoken to Cristiano Ronaldo and dismissed suggestions of a rift within Portugal's squad after ⁠the captain's abrupt departure from the national team's training camp cast doubt over his international future.

Portugal's ‌record goalscorer Ronaldo, 41, left the camp in Copenhagen on Wednesday shortly after coach Jorge Jesus acknowledged tensions between the pair.

The Al-Nassr forward departed a day before Portugal's Nations League group-stage clash with Denmark, a match Jesus' side went on to win 4-2.

Ronaldo said on Instagram ​that he made the decision after Jesus' news conference and a conversation ⁠with Portuguese Football Federation President Pedro Proenca, ⁠adding that he would reveal his reasons "in due course".

"I had a chat with him and what I said to ⁠him ‌is what I'll repeat here: the most important thing is that, whatever happens, Cristiano Ronaldo will never cease to be the greatest symbol of our national team, of our football and of the country," Fernandes ⁠told a news conference ahead of Sunday's Nations League match against ​Norway in Porto.

"For what he has ‌achieved not only in Portugal, but all over the world. He has a place reserved not only ⁠amongst the all-time ​greats, but also in the hearts of all Portuguese people.

"The most important thing is that we stop stirring up trouble; there are no divisions within the national team. It is one team and will remain so, despite any noise that may come from ⁠outside."

Spanish newspaper Marca reported that Portugal manager Jorge Jesus and ​Portuguese Football Federation President Pedro Proenca made an unsuccessful dash to Copenhagen airport in an attempt to persuade Ronaldo not to leave the squad.

"The most important thing is that this ends well, for both sides," the 32-year-old Manchester United captain ⁠added.

"We're completely out of the picture; we're aware of what you're saying and what we're seeing. We've spent a lot of time in the players' room playing cards; we're on the sidelines of this controversy, but what I ask is that the country doesn't become divided, doesn't take sides, and respects all parties..."

Jesus, meanwhile, sought to shift ​the focus back to Norway.

Portugal top Group A4 on nine points from three ⁠matches, with Norway third on three.

"The focus has to be on the national team, the match against Norway, and what ​we need to do well, in tune with our people," he said.

"But ‌that doesn't mean I'm ignoring Cris. He's a symbol of ​the Portuguese national team; he's a symbol of Portugal - let that be quite clear.

"After the match, there'll be time to talk about that."

(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Thank you for your report!

足球 - 2026年国际足联世界杯 - 32强赛 - 葡萄牙对阵克罗地亚 - 加拿大多伦多多伦多体育场 - 2026年7月2日 葡萄牙球员克里斯蒂亚诺·罗纳尔多和布鲁诺·费尔南德斯在赛前热身 路透社/Jeenah Moon/资料照片

10月3日（路透社）——布鲁诺·费尔南德斯周六表示，他已经与克里斯蒂亚诺·罗纳尔多谈过话，并驳斥了有关葡萄牙队内部出现裂痕的说法。此前，这位队长突然离开国家队训练营，这让他的国际赛场生涯蒙上了一层阴影。

葡萄牙队史最佳射手罗纳尔多（41岁）周三离开了哥本哈根的训练营，此前不久，主教练豪尔赫·热苏斯承认两人之间存在紧张关系。

阿尔纳斯尔前锋在葡萄牙与丹麦的欧国联小组赛前一天离队，热苏斯的球队最终以 4-2 赢得了这场比赛。

罗纳尔多在 Instagram 上表示，他是在热苏斯的新闻发布会以及与葡萄牙足球协会主席佩德罗·普罗恩卡的谈话后做出这一决定的，并补充说他将在“适当的时候”透露原因。

“我和他聊了聊，我对他说的话我在这里再重复一遍：最重要的是，无论发生什么，克里斯蒂亚诺·罗纳尔多永远都是我们国家队、我们足球和我们国家最伟大的象征，”费尔南德斯在周日波尔图对阵挪威的欧国联比赛前的新闻发布会上说道。

“他不仅在葡萄牙，而且在全世界都取得了卓越的成就。他不仅在历史上最伟大的球员之列占有一席之地，而且在所有葡萄牙人民的心中也占有一席之地。”

“最重要的是我们停止制造麻烦；国家队内部没有分裂。这是一个团队，无论外界发出什么噪音，它都将保持团结。”

西班牙《马卡报》报道称，葡萄牙国家队主教练豪尔赫·热苏斯和葡萄牙足协主席佩德罗·普罗恩卡曾匆匆赶往哥本哈根机场，试图说服罗纳尔多不要离开国家队，但未能成功。

“最重要的是，这件事能以双方都能好的方式结束，”这位32岁的曼联队长补充道。

“我们完全置身事外；我们清楚你们所说所见。我们大部分时间都在球员休息室里打牌；我们置身事外，不参与这场争议，但我请求的是，国家不要分裂，不要选边站队，要尊重所有各方……”

与此同时，耶稣试图将焦点重新转移到挪威。

葡萄牙队以三战积九分位居A4组榜首，挪威队同样积三分排名第三。

他说：“我们必须把重点放在国家队、与挪威的比赛以及我们需要做好的事情上，与我们的人民保持一致。”

但这并不意味着我忽视了克里斯。他是葡萄牙国家队的象征；他是葡萄牙的象征——这一点必须明确。

“比赛结束后，会有时间谈论这件事。”

（Pearl Josephine Nazare在班加罗尔报道；Pritha Sarkar编辑）

感谢您的报告！