Cristiano Ronaldo Reportedly Expresses Interest in Returning to European Football
Cristiano Ronaldo, currently under contract with Al-Nassr until June 2025, is said to have approached four European clubs, including Chelsea, during the ongoing winter transfer window.
The Portuguese forward, who will celebrate his 40th birthday next month, moved to Saudi Arabia in January 2023 after parting ways with Manchester United. His exit from Old Trafford came just before the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and he subsequently joined Al-Nassr on a free transfer.
According to Football365, the former Real Madrid icon harbors ambitions of making a comeback to European football. However, his attempts to rejoin Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Atletico Madrid, and Bayern Munich have reportedly been unsuccessful, with concerns about his age and salary being significant barriers.
Despite these setbacks, Ronaldo has been delivering impressive performances for Al-Nassr. This season, he has contributed 16 goals and three assists in 19 appearances across all competitions. Since joining the Saudi Pro League side, Ronaldo has played 89 matches, scoring 80 goals and providing 18 assists.
Ronaldo’s Views on Saudi Pro League vs. Ligue 1
Last month, Ronaldo sparked debate by claiming that the Saudi Pro League is superior to Ligue 1. Speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards (via Mirror), he remarked:
> “Saudi Pro League is better than Ligue 1, of course. France only has PSG. The rest are finished. Try to sprint in 38, 39, 40-degree weather and see. It is difficult to become the champion in Saudi.”
Al-Nassr, who secured second place in the Saudi Pro League in both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, currently sit fourth in the league with 25 points from 13 matches this campaign.
De Zerbi Responds to Ronaldo’s Claim
Roberto De Zerbi, manager of Olympique Marseille, responded to Ronaldo’s comments about Ligue 1. Speaking to *Mirror*, he stated:
> “It is a stronger league than people outside of France may think. The players and coaches are very strong, the stadiums are full, and the atmospheres are great. Maybe this league is badly promoted or not as well as the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, or Bundesliga. I don’t know if this is a communication or a management issue.”
Under De Zerbi’s leadership since last summer, Marseille are currently second in the Ligue 1 standings, with 33 points from 16 games, trailing the top spot by seven points.
