Close Menu
Nabka News
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • China
  • India
  • Pakistan
  • Political
  • Tech
  • Trend
  • USA
  • Sports

Subscribe to Updates

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news

Subscribe my Newsletter for New Posts & tips Let's stay updated!

What's Hot

Ishaq Dar to embark on two-day official trip to Hong Kong

May 29, 2025

‘Heinous crime’: Israel kills 10 desperate aid seekers in Gaza in 48 hours | Israel-Palestine conflict News

May 29, 2025

‘Not aid, but humiliation’: A desperate search for food in Gaza | Israel-Palestine conflict News

May 29, 2025
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
  • Home
  • About NabkaNews
  • Advertise with NabkaNews
  • DMCA Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact us
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest Vimeo
Nabka News
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • China
  • India
  • Pakistan
  • Political
  • Tech
  • Trend
  • USA
  • Sports
Nabka News
Home » Ronaldo set to leave Al Nassr: What’s next, can he play in Club World Cup? | Football News
USA

Ronaldo set to leave Al Nassr: What’s next, can he play in Club World Cup? | Football News

i2wtcBy i2wtcMay 27, 2025No Comments7 Mins Read
Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email WhatsApp Copy Link
Follow Us
Google News Flipboard Threads
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Copy Link


Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that he will quit his club team Al Nassr, possibly ending his association with the lucrative Saudi Pro League.

The 40-year-old Portugal striker announced only hours after his club’s final match of the season that “This chapter is over” via his account on the social media platform X.

The post included a picture of him in an Al Nassr jersey and concluded: “The story? Still being written. Grateful to all.”

Speculation has now moved into overdrive about where the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward will move next.

Al Jazeera takes a look at what might occur in the coming days and possible options ahead for a player who remains one of world football’s most bankable assets.

Why would Ronaldo leave Al Nassr?

Ronaldo joined Al Nassr from Manchester United in January 2023 in a move that shocked the world.

The five-time world player of the year was the marquee signing that the Saudi Pro League needed to elevate its global standing.

His lucrative two-and-a-half-year deal, estimated to have been worth 200 million euros ($214.5m), comes to an end in June but was widely expected to be renewed.

Al Nassr have failed to win any titles in Ronaldo’s time at the club and disappointingly have missed out on a place at both the FIFA Club World Cup and the Asian Champions League, having finished third in the league this season.

A place in the Asian Champions League Two is now the best they can hope for via a playoff.

This chapter is over.
The story? Still being written.
Grateful to all. pic.twitter.com/Vuvl5siEB3

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) May 26, 2025

Can Ronaldo play in the FIFA Club World Cup?

Yes. The 32 teams involved in the Club World Cup have been granted a special transfer window to sign players.

It runs June 1-10 just before the tournament in the United States begins on June 14 when Inter Miami face Al Ahly.

What was FIFA President Infantino’s take on Ronaldo at the Club World Cup?

FIFA President Gianni Infantino revealed last week that “there are discussions” surrounding Ronaldo playing at the enlarged and rebranded tournament.

Which FIFA Club World Cup teams could Ronaldo potentially join?

1. Real Madrid

Ronaldo became a Galactico when he joined the Spanish giants from Manchester United in 2009 for what was then a world record fee of 80 million euros ($91m).

Even a short-term move back to Real for the tournament is unlikely given the struggles Los Blancos had in finding the best way for Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo to line up as the front three as Real tried to defend its Champions League and La Liga titles.

With Jude Bellingham already having to adapt to a new role last season given Mbappe’s arrival from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), it is difficult to envisage a Real return for Ronaldo.

Another of his former clubs at the tournament is Juventus, again at least offering the option of an emotional reunion. But because such a move would be only a short-term one, Juventus are unlikely to want to upset the playing group that qualified them for the tournament.

2. Inter Miami

The biggest headline move would undoubtedly be for a link-up with Ronaldo’s career-long rival for the title of the best player in the world, Lionel Messi.

The Argentinian forward left Paris Saint-Germain to join the David Beckham co-owned Major League Soccer (MLS) side in 2023.

It was a sensational score for Miami as Ronaldo himself had also been linked with a move to the MLS before joining Al Nassr.

If Ronaldo’s participation at the Club World Cup is seen as a boost to the competition by Infantino and FIFA, then clearly there would be no bigger headline-grabber than a link-up between two players that between them have shared the title of world player of the year on 13 occasions.

Last week, when he was asked if Inter Miami might sign Ronaldo, Infantino laughed and replied: “It’s possible.”

Paris Saint-Germain's Argentine forward Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo playing for a combined XI of Saudi Arabian teams Al Nassr and Al Hilal against Lionel Messi, representing Paris Saint-Germain, during a friendly in 2023 [File: Hussein Malla/AP Photo]

3. Al Hilal

A strong contender for Ronaldo’s signature, both in the short and long term, is 2023-2024 Saudi Pro League winners, Al Hilal.

The move makes a lot of sense to all parties. The marquee signing for the Saudi domestic league remains in the competition, plays in the Club World Cup and will spearhead the Saudi assault for next season’s Asian Champions League.

For Ronaldo, it would mean staying in the Saudi capital, where many of his current business and commercial interests are based.

The other options in the region who are also represented at the Club World Cup are Al Ain from the United Arab Emirates and a switch to challenge for the African Champions League next season with Egyptian giants Al Ahly. The loss of Ronaldo to a neighbouring football nation is surely something the Saudi Pro League would prefer to avoid.

4. Botafogo

The Spanish newspaper Marca reported last week that Ronaldo is in talks with the Brazilian mega-club Botafogo.

That news made a lot of sense at the time because they could potentially afford a short-term deal with Ronaldo. However, that news came before the player’s announcement that his time with Al Nassr might have come to an end.

A long-term move to Brazil, despite its footballing heritage and legacy, appears unlikely. A short-term deal remains an option unless it interferes with a move to a Club World Cup participant that would want a contract beyond the end of the competition.

Palmeiras, Fluminense and Flamengo are also representing the Brazilian top flight at the tournament.

5. Seattle Sounders

One move that would perhaps offer the cleanest solution to Ronaldo’s appearance at the Club World Cup is to sign a long-term deal with one of the US-based participants.

Much like the Saudi Pro League’s desire to elevate their exposure, the MLS would be significantly boosted by Ronaldo’s signature – be it in a link-up with Messi or in opposition to the Argentinian on an opposing side.

A move to the Seattle Sounders, the MLS champions, would also bring credibility to his appearance in the competition as part of a longer potential plan to base himself in the US.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi in action with Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo
The last competitive meeting between Ronaldo and Messi came in 2020 during a Champions League tie between Ronaldo’s Juventus and Messi’s Barcelona [File: Albert Gea/Reuters]

Could Messi and Ronaldo play together?

The thrill of a potential Messi and Ronaldo link-up at the Club World Cup goes beyond the positional play of the pair, but that too would be a huge talking point were a collaboration at Inter Miami to be arranged.

Messi’s preference is to play either on the right, cutting in on his famed left foot, or in a deeper role through the middle with the team playing around him.

Ronaldo, who began on the left flank, now operates solely through the middle but in a more advanced position to that preferred by Messi.

Both scenarios could work, but both would result in Messi making runs into the area of the field occupied by Ronaldo, and that is where the on-field viability of a potential partnership would be questioned.

The pair have long been rivals for the famed Ballon d’Or title, making the annual award ceremony to name the best player in the world an often tense affair.

The debate as to who was the better player at their peak raged through their time in La Liga with Messi at Barcelona and Ronaldo at Real Madrid.

It was often a conversation that the pair would cryptically contribute to over the years while there was noticeably no love lost when the duo would meet on the field of play.

A partnership at the Club World Cup would be one of the biggest box office events in football history and would draw much needed attention to the competition.

Whether their longstanding rivalry and differences could be put to one side would be the biggest hurdle to perhaps the greatest matchup in the sport’s history.





Source link

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email WhatsApp Copy Link
i2wtc
  • Website

Related Posts

USA

‘Heinous crime’: Israel kills 10 desperate aid seekers in Gaza in 48 hours | Israel-Palestine conflict News

May 29, 2025
USA

Trump says Harvard should cap foreign enrollment, provide student list | Donald Trump News

May 28, 2025
USA

US Vice President Vance touts Trump’s crypto record at Bitcoin conference | Crypto News

May 28, 2025
USA

Fight for the Pacific – Episode 2: Fallout Zone | Documentary

May 28, 2025
USA

US to penalise foreign officials who ‘censor’ US companies, citizens | Donald Trump News

May 28, 2025
USA

Gulf states, China take centre stage at summit of Southeast Asian nations | International Trade News

May 28, 2025
Add A Comment
Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Top Posts

Ishaq Dar to embark on two-day official trip to Hong Kong

May 29, 2025

Swimming at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships Preview

January 5, 2020

21 Best Smart Kitchen Appliances 2024 – Smart Cooking Devices

January 6, 2020

World Music Day 2023: What Is It and Why Do We Celebrate It?

January 7, 2020
Don't Miss

‘Heinous crime’: Israel kills 10 desperate aid seekers in Gaza in 48 hours | Israel-Palestine conflict News

By i2wtcMay 29, 20250

At least 10 Palestinians desperately seeking aid from a contentious and heavily criticised United States-backed…

Trump says Harvard should cap foreign enrollment, provide student list | Donald Trump News

May 28, 2025

US Vice President Vance touts Trump’s crypto record at Bitcoin conference | Crypto News

May 28, 2025

Fight for the Pacific – Episode 2: Fallout Zone | Documentary

May 28, 2025

Subscribe to Updates

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news

Subscribe my Newsletter for New Posts & tips Let's stay updated!

About Us
About Us

Welcome to NabkaNews, your go-to source for the latest updates and insights on technology, business, and news from around the world, with a focus on the USA, Pakistan, and India.

At NabkaNews, we understand the importance of staying informed in today’s fast-paced world. Our mission is to provide you with accurate, relevant, and engaging content that keeps you up-to-date with the latest developments in technology, business trends, and news events.

Facebook X (Twitter) Pinterest YouTube WhatsApp
Our Picks

Ishaq Dar to embark on two-day official trip to Hong Kong

May 29, 2025

‘Heinous crime’: Israel kills 10 desperate aid seekers in Gaza in 48 hours | Israel-Palestine conflict News

May 29, 2025

‘Not aid, but humiliation’: A desperate search for food in Gaza | Israel-Palestine conflict News

May 29, 2025
Most Popular

China’s “Hole in Heaven”: A gigantic sinkhole with an ancient forest growing inside

May 24, 2024

Nvidia’s only weakness: China

May 25, 2024

U.S. lawmakers tell Taiwan to arm itself, China drills show need for deterrence

May 27, 2024
© 2025 nabkanews. Designed by nabkanews.
  • Home
  • About NabkaNews
  • Advertise with NabkaNews
  • DMCA Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.