Cristiano Ronaldo says he is focused on turning things around with Al Nassr, seemingly ruling out a shock January transfer.
Ronaldo, who turns 40 in February, moved to Saudi Arabia in 2023 after a fairytale return to Manchester United failed, signing a lucrative two-and-a-half-year deal.
That contract, rumored to be worth £177m, is set to expire this summer, prompting speculation that the top goalscorer in the history of men’s international football could be considering a return to Europe.
Indeed, the floundering Premier League champions Manchester City – United’s bitter rivals – were hailed as crash landing site for Ronaldo, as are Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain – although that link exists since it is diminished.
But Ronaldo, who remains a shining light in a struggling Al Nassr side, appears intent on honoring the contract he signed in January 2023, with a dogged focus on helping the PIF-backed side turn the tables.
Ronaldo said Saudi Professional League media channels: “I am happy and my family is happy. We have started a new life in this beautiful country. Life is good, football is good. As for individuals and teams, we are still here. We are still progressing.
“It’s hard to compete with teams like Al Hilal and Al Ittihad, but we’re still here, we’re still pushing and fighting. That’s how football is; you have good moments and bad moments. But, for me, the most important thing is to be professional, to push hard , respect the club, respect his contract and believe that things will change – for Al Nassr to try to win more titles.
He added: “The [AFC] The Champions League is something I want to win for the club. But the most important thing is to keep pushing and be professional.”
Ronaldo is generally regarded as one of the the greatest football players of all time after a stellar 21-year career in which he won five Ballons d’Or, the European Championship with Portugal, multiple Champions Leagues with Real Madrid and Manchester Unitedand a number of other individual and team awards.
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