Cristiano Ronaldo is open to leaving Al-Nassr when his contract expires, opening the door to a blockbuster move.
Ronaldo signed for Al-Nassr and signed a huge contract in 2023, but that expires next summer and like players in Europe he is free to sign an early deal from January. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner had claimed his time in Europe was over when he first moved to Saudi Arabia.
He spoke of his desire to leave a legacy in the Middle East and help the game grow, with a huge amount of money being poured into improving the domestic scene. Ronaldo remains the biggest name in the Saudi Pro League but has raised doubts over his long-term future.
Speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards, where he once again picked up individual accolades, Ronaldo admitted he was open to offers, as he said: “You never know what could happen in the future.”
Marca reports that Ronaldo is not actively looking to leave Saudi Arabia and remains determined to eventually deliver Al-Nassr a title. But if a good offer comes along, he's open to it. The veteran frontman has no plans to retire and will continue to play with breaking records as a huge motivation.
There were no offers for the icon as he left Manchester United in dire circumstances. Ronaldo saw his contract end at Old Trafford and despite his position in the game he was not actively pursued by a major European side and opted to move to the Middle East.
Ronaldo recently passed the 1,000 goal mark and this season he scored 16 goals in his 19 appearances for the Saudi team. It would be a surprise if he chose to move elsewhere in the Middle East and any suitor would have to be able to afford his wages, which also limits his options.
Fenerbahce had attracted interest but Jose Mourinho, who managed Ronaldo at Real Madrid, laughed off the prospect of a move to Turkey. He said: “News about Cristiano Ronaldo to Fenerbahçe is ridiculous. Cristiano might come to Istanbul to eat because it is in the middle of the road between Saudi Arabia and Portugal.”
The 39-year-old turns 40 in February and has spoken about his post-retirement plans, ruling out a spell in the dugout. Instead, he has suggested the possibility of buying a club. “I am not a coach. I will never be a coach, club president? No. Maybe owner of the club,” he said.
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