09/30/26 10:03:00
Printable Page
09/30 07:51 CDT Cristiano Ronaldo a doubt for Nations League game amid reports
he is unhappy with coach
Cristiano Ronaldo a doubt for Nations League game amid reports he is unhappy
with coach
LISBON, Portugal (AP) --- There was doubt about Cristiano Ronaldo playing for
Portugal on Thursday after he missed team training and local media talked about
the superstar being unhappy with coach Jorge Jesus.
Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in men's international soccer and pursuing
the milestone of 1,000 career goals, was left on the bench on Sunday in
Portugal's 2-1 win at Norway in the Nations League.
He has not practiced with the team since then, doing only gym work, the
Portuguese Football Federation said.
Portuguese media said federation president Pedro Proena had to travel to meet
with Ronaldo and Jesus after reports the froward was unhappy about being left
out of the match against Norway. The federation confirmed only that Proena was
with the squad in Sweden, where it was preparing for Thursday's Nations League
game against Denmark.
Ronaldo, who has 146 international goals for Portugal, on Tuesday posted on
Instagram a photo of him wearing the Portugal uniform accompanied with the
Portuguese flag and a heart emoji.
Jesus, who took over the squad from Roberto Martnez after the World Cup, said
ahead of the Norway game that he didn't want to overuse Ronaldo during the
unusually long international break in which Portugal plays four games in 11
days.
He said he planned to give Ronaldo some minutes against Norway but the
circumstances of the match kept him from being used. Jesus said right after the
game that he would "talk to him," while responding to reports that Ronaldo was
upset.
Ronaldo started in Portugal's 1-0 win over Wales last Thursday and was
substituted in the 67th minute.
Portugal leads Group A4 of the Nations League with six points from two matches,
three points more than Denmark and Norway. Wales is last with no points.
Portugal will host Norway on Sunday.
___
See AP's full soccer coverage here
|
