First Portugal stars speak publicly about Cristiano Ronaldo saga after Denmark win

Nuno Mendes and Goncalo Ramos have become the first Portugal players to comment publicly on Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the national team camp earlier this week.

Ronaldo, 41, decided to continue playing for Portugal after the World Cup and started their 2-1 Nations League win over Wales last month, but was an unused substitute for the win over Norway.

On Wednesday, he returned home and said he would reveal the truth behind his departure 'in time'. Head coach Jorge Jesus - who managed Ronaldo at Al Nassr - says there has been no feud between the pair, and Mendes and Ramos have become the first members of the playing squad to address the situation.

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Nuno Mendes, Goncalo Ramos speak out over Cristiano Ronaldo saga

Paris Saint-Germain left-back Mendes has started all three of Portugal's matches during the ongoing international break, including the 4-2 win away at Denmark in the Nations League on Thursday night.

He was put on media duty following the victory, and was given the unenviable task of addressing Ronaldo's exit from the national team and the effect it has had on the rest of the squad.

Mendes said it is 'not for us to decide' whether Ronaldo makes a return to the international setup, but said he would welcome back any player who wished to play for Portugal.

"He is a player for the national team, and we are more focused on what we have to do now and on what the coach wants to bring to us," Mendes said (via Fabrizio Romano). "As for the rest, it's not for us to decide.

"We're here to welcome any player who joins us."

AC Milan striker Ramos gave a similar assessment during his post-match interview, stating: "That story did not influence us. We want to win every game. That is what we did."

While defender Renato Veiga later said he had been 'instructed' not to discuss Ronaldo: "I'm very close to Cristiano Ronaldo and he knows I have a lot of affection for him.

"But I've been instructed not to talk about this. I can't talk about it."

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What happened between Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal - and what comes next

Portugal complete their international programme with a home clash against Norway on Sunday evening.

Ramos started up front in the win over Denmark and boosted his chances of retaining his place with a goal on 25 minutes.

Rafael Leao, wearing the number seven shirt traditionally assigned to Ronaldo because of UEFA's rules on squad numbers, played on the left flank, with Bruno Fernandes through the centre and Pedro Neto on the right.

Aside from Ramos, Portugal coach Jesus also has Fabio Silva and Joao Felix as his other striking options. Felix, who plays alongside Ronaldo for Al Nassr, came off the bench and scored against Denmark.

As for what Portugal and Ronaldo do next, that appears to be a much more complicated scenario.

Ronaldo was expected to retire from international football after the World Cup but, at 41, declared that he would continue after being selected in their squad for the current four-game international break.

But he was an unused substitute against Norway and walked straight to the dressing room at full-time rather than join his team-mates in acknowledging the fans.

Jesus claimed there was 'no incident whatsoever' between himself and Ronaldo, and that he had told the five-time Ballon d'Or winner he would not be starting against Norway, but could be brought on in the second half.

"Any player, when you spend 20 or 30 minutes warming up and then don't get on, no-one is happy about that," Jesus added. "Afterwards, as a coach [following his conversation with Ronaldo], I decided not to bring him on."

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Ronaldo subsequently stated that he had left the national team camp after talks with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, former referee Pedro Proenca.

"In time, I will tell all the Portuguese the truth about the reasons that motivated me to leave," he stated.