Al Nassr manager Rudi Garcia has dropped a massive hint over Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-term future at the club after his lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.
Ronaldo, who left Manchester United in 2022, put pen to paper and completed a free transfer that now sees him earn an eye-watering £177m per year at Al Nassr.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has been criticised over the transfer after his previous comments emerged about making a big-money move to the Middle East.
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Ronaldo, who is under contract with Al Nassr until 2025, claimed that he had received offers from around the world before he signed for his current side.
The 37-year-old Portuguese forward made his long-awaited debut for Al Nassr last week as he captained the Saudi Pro League side to a 1-0 win over Al Ettifaq.
Ronaldo started in Al Nassr’s Saudi Super Cup semi-final clash on Thursday, only for Garcia’s men to lose 3-1 to Al Ittihad at the King Fahd International Stadium.
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The Portugal captain has failed to find the back of the net for Al Nassr, but he did score a brace for Riyadh All-Star XI in their friendly against Paris Saint-Germain.
Garcia hailed Ronaldo as “one of the best players in the world,” but he added that he doesn’t expect the United and Real Madrid legend to end his career at Al Nassr.
The Al Nassr boss has tipped Ronaldo to make a sensational return to European football after his spell at Mrsool Park.
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“Cristiano Ronaldo is a positive addition, as he helps to disperse defenders,” Garcia said.
“He is one of the best players in the world. He will not finish his career at Al Nassr, he will return to Europe.
He added: “Ronaldo missed a chance on goal that would have turned the game around in the first half but I congratulate Al Ittihad.
“They were much better than us until the break. So, we reacted but we could no longer turn around. We lost the Super Cup but we are still first in the championship.
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“It is very important that the players play normally and don’t always try to give Cristiano the ball.
“I told them they had to make the right decisions on the field. Obviously, when Cristiano or Talisca are alone and ask for the ball, we have to give them the ball.
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“These two players are capable of making a difference. I think sometimes we had good crossing positions, but there were not enough people in the box, sometimes not Ronaldo or Talisca.
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“We have to work on it, have one of them in the area and maybe the other will play outside the area.”
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Pro League, Football
Adnan Riaz