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August 7, 2024
When Ronaldo announced he was moving to Saudi Arabia to play in Al Nassr, few were the ones who believed he would still be capable of playing again at the highest level. However, the truth is that CR7 has showed he's still more than capable of playing in a top league in Europe...
Cristiano Ronaldo may not be playing his football in Europe or any of the so-called top leagues right now, but the Portuguese legend remains one of the most talked about footballers in the world. He joined Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr at the start of 2023, but with his contract due to expire in twelve months, could a return to Europe be on the cards?
Cristiano Ronaldo - Highlights in Al Nassr:
Ronaldo turns forty years old in February, but he's a player who will undoubtedly continue to play for a good while yet. Physically, he's a phenom and remains in fantastic shape, which is why he remains a goalscoring machine. Last season, the Al-Nassr captain scored forty-four goals in forty-five games and was also a mainstay for Portugal in the Euros. So there's no sign of him being on the decline.
At the end of his present deal with Al-Nassr, he will likely explore all options available to him before deciding on his next step. The Portuguese icon will have plenty of offers, too. However, whether they can financially get a deal over the line will be another question, as his current employers broke the bank to sign him.
You can be almost sure that there will be clubs in Europe who admire Ronaldo, regardless of his age, because they know he can still do the business in front of goal. As a player, Ronaldo has excelled in the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A, so if a club operating in Europe were to acquire his services, it would almost certainly boost their standing in football betting odds online. There's also the marketing angle, as Ronaldo is a brand in himself and will impact any club he signs for where revenue from shirt sales, among other things, is concerned.
As well as a return to Europe, there will be another couple of options on the table. There will always be the draw of the MLS in the USA. Ronaldo's great rival, Lionel Messi, is enjoying the twilight of his career in the MLS with Inter Miami, and a final battle between the pair would be appealing, not just for Ronaldo but for a lot of people. You'd imagine that that if Inter Miami can attract the likes of Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets, to name a few stars, then an MLS franchise can get a deal together for Ronaldo.
Al-Nassr won't want to lose their captain and talisman anytime soon, either. Economically, they're a club that can undoubtedly meet Ronaldo's demands, as proven when they signed him in 2023. Regardless of his talent and ability, when his contract expires at forty years old, finances will be a significant factor.
This is primarily why it is unlikely that Ronaldo will make a return to Europe anytime soon unless it's for sentimental reasons, such as ending his career at Sporting, the club he came through at before moving to Manchester United in 2003. And everyone knows the rest.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Al Nassr is on August 14, against Al Taawon for the Saudi Super Cup. You can watch Al Taawon vs Al Nassr, Real Madrid vs AC Milan, Man City vs Barça, Manchester United vs Betis, Liverpool vs Arsenal and Chelsea vs America, all matches provided from our football live game pages.
Al Nassr next game:
Al Taawon vs Al Nassr kick-off time (14-08-2024):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+8: 00:15
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+5.30: 21:45
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | UTC/GMT+3: 19:15
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+2: 18:15
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+1: 17:15
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 13:15
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-3: 13:15
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-6: 10:15
Sources: ronaldo7.net / olympics.com / goal.com
