Will Cristiano Ronaldo return to Manchester United for third stint?
What's the story
Cristiano Ronaldo's former teammate, Wes Brown, has shared his thoughts on the possibility of the Portuguese superstar returning to Manchester United for a third stint. The 40-year-old striker is said to be unhappy at Al-Nassr, feeling that the club's owners have prioritized their other three teams over his own. This has led to speculation about a potential move in the coming months as he aims for 1,000 career goals before retirement.
Career highlights
Ronaldo's stint at Al-Nassr
Ronaldo made history by becoming the first high-profile player to join the Saudi Pro League in 2023, after his contract with United ended. Despite his impressive scoring record at Al-Nassr, he has only won one trophy so far - the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup. At present, the club is second in the Pro League title race, just a point behind leaders Al-Hilal after 19 games.
Transfer speculation
Ronaldo unhappy with Saudi Pro League's decisions
According to a BBC report, Ronaldo's frustration at Al-Nassr has been fueled by Al-Hilal's pursuit of his former Real Madrid teammate, Karim Benzema. He is believed to be disgruntled about the club's management by the Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). He feels this gives his title rivals an advantage in their quest for silverware. This has sparked speculation about his future, including a possible third stint at Manchester United.
Expert opinion
Brown weighs in on Ronaldo's future
Speaking to BettingLounge, Brown said he doesn't see a return to Manchester United for Ronaldo. He suggested that a move to Major League Soccer or back to Portugal could be possible. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, teams in MLS and Europe are reportedly keeping an eye on developments. Ronaldo recently scored his 17th goal of the ongoing Saudi Pro League, bringing his career tally to 961 goals. He has been reiterating his quest for 1,000 career goals.
Contract details
Release clause in Ronaldo's contract
Ronaldo's contract with Al-Nassr reportedly includes a €50 million (£43m/$59m) release clause. This means that if any team is willing to pay the amount, they could sign him from the Riyadh-based club. As for his on-field performance, Ronaldo missed Al-Nassr's latest Saudi Pro League match against Al-Riyadh. As per reports, the 40-year-old refused to play due to his dissatisfaction. Al-Nassr's next match is against Al-Ittihad on Friday.
Goals
Breakdown of Ronaldo's goals
Ronaldo, one of the greatest all-time strikers, has racked up 818 goals in club football so far. He has the distinction of scoring 100-plus goals for four clubs - Manchester United (145 across two stints), Real Madrid (450), Juventus (101), and Al-Nassr (117*). Ronaldo owns a total of 143 international goals for Portugal from 226 games across all competitions, taking his total career tally to 961.