The former Real Madrid and Manchester United player’s Al Nassr contract is about to expire this summer.
As Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract with Al Nassr draws to a close, his future remains uncertain.
After a falling out with then-manager Erik ten Hag in November 2022, Ronaldo, 39, left Manchester United to join the Saudi Pro League team. He has scored 11 goals in 13 Saudi Pro League games this season, bringing his total number of goals with the club to 75 in 84 appearances since his eagerly awaited debut in the Middle East.
After 14 games, his goals have propelled Al Nassr to third position in the league. His future at the club is still up in the air, though.
Long-time rival Lionel Messi plays for David Beckham’s Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer (MLS), where Ronaldo has been linked to a move. The Portuguese have kept up their performances with Portugal, both at the club and international levels.
But this summer, Alex Telles, a close friend and former United teammate of Ronaldo’s, departed the team to accompany Botafogo back to his home country of Brazil. The 32-year-old Telles described how Ronaldo influenced his decision to join Al Nassr in 2023.
“Cristiano Ronaldo was a very important factor in me coming here,” he told Sapo Desporto in February 2024.
“We exchanged messages beforehand, my agent was involved, but obviously, being the legend Cristiano Ronaldo, the greatness that he is, that we’ve known since Manchester United, clearly made it easier for me to come.
“We talked a lot, he told me what the club was like and that he was looking forward to me coming. “I’m happy to have an athlete and human being like him… with all his dedication to getting me here. So all the effort I put in for myself is also for him, for Al-Nassr and for all the players who are here.”
Cristiano Ronaldo has no intention of stopping
Furthermore, according to Spanish publication Marca, Ronaldo “has no plans” to hang up his boots anytime soon, despite his advanced age. However, according to TeamTalk, the Portuguese is “not rushing” to decide on his future.
According to the outlet, insiders have told them that Ronaldo has three choices.
The first is retirement at the end of the season, and the second is a potential contract extension with Al Nassr. Retirement after the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico is a third possibility.
