Al-Nassr chapter 'over', Ronaldo hints

RIYADH — Questions swirled over Cristiano Ronaldo's future in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, hours after the superstar indicated in a social media post that he might be leaving Al-Nassr, just hours following the end of the Saudi Pro League season.

The 40-year-old Portuguese forward joined Al-Nassr in 2022 from Manchester United and his contract with the Saudi club ends this summer.

A special transfer window runs from June 1-10 to allow the 32 clubs involved in the Club World Cup to sign players.

Al-Nassr is not at the Club World Cup, unlike fellow Saudi side Al Hilal.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino last week said "there are discussions" over the former United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Sporting Lisbon star playing at the enlarged tournament in the United States, which starts on June 14.

"This chapter is over," Ronaldo cryptically said on social media with a photo of him in an Al-Nassr shirt.

"The story? Still being written. Grateful to all."

Top scorer

Ronaldo's potential exit from Saudi Arabia will likely raise fresh questions about how the Saudi Pro League will fare in his absence, with rumors already circulating of other ageing soccer stars eyeing opportunities in the Kingdom.

On Monday, Simone Inzaghi played down rumors that he is set to leave Inter Milan after the Champions League final, amid widespread reports of interest from Al-Hilal.

Ronaldo's announcement comes just months after Brazilian star Neymar ended his injury-plagued 18 month stay in Saudi, where he played just seven times with Al-Hilal after joining the club in August 2023 — despite a reported salary of around $104 million a year.

The cryptic post from Ronaldo comes after Al-Nassr lost in the semifinals of the Asian Champions League last month to Japan's Kawasaki Frontale and finished third in the Saudi Pro League.

Ronaldo was the league's top goal scorer with 25.

Last year, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner said he could end his career with Al-Nassr.

Ronaldo's great rival Lionel Messi will play at the Club World Cup with Inter Miami.

During a recent interview with YouTuber and streamer IShow-Speed, Infantino said: "And Ronaldo might play for one of the teams, as well, at the Club World Cup.

"There are discussions with some clubs, so if any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup... who knows? Who knows?"

Soccer frenzy

Saudi Arabia has shaken up soccer by spending heavily on stars from Europe, starting with Ronaldo's move in late 2022, and the desert nation will host the World Cup in 2034.

For nearly two years, Saudi soccer fans were watching the likes of Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, with six Ballons d'Or between them, on any given weekend during the Saudi domestic season.

However, the oil-funded Saudi soccer project has drawn comparisons with the Chinese Super League, which imported players on unsustainable, exorbitant salaries until team owners went bust.

But, with Saudi Arabia set to host the 2034 World Cup, and desperate to re-model itself as a tourism and business hub before global oil demand falls for good, there is probably more to come from the Pro League.

The Portuguese great appeared to trade an end-of-career payday for soccer obscurity when he moved to Riyadh's Al-Nassr two years ago in a deal said to be worth $250 million.

But his influence became clear, when he was followed by a parade of ageing superstars to the big-spending league.

AFP