Cristiano Ronaldo has been spotted training with former club Real Madrid as the free agent mulls over his future in club football following exit from the 2022 World Cup.
Portugal were knocked out at the quarter-final stage, courtesy of a 1-0 defeat to African side Morocco, sending Ronaldo and co. home early and making almost certain that the 37-year-old will end his career without a World Cup win to his name.
Doha, Qatar. 02nd Dec, 2022. Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal during the FIFA World Cup 2022, Group H football match between Korea Republic and Portugal on December 2, 2022 at Education City Stadium in Doha, Qatar – Photo Jean Catuffe / DPPI Credit: DPPI Med 2M000PE Doha, Qatar. 02nd Dec, 2022. Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal during the FIFA World Cup 2022, Group H football match between Korea Republic and Portugal on December 2, 2022 at Education City Stadium in Doha, Qatar – Photo Jean Catuffe / DPPI Credit: DPPI Media/Alamy Live News (Alamy Stock Photo)
And it leaves Ronaldo without a club, with the striker having sensationally split from Manchester United a week before the tournament in Qatar kicked off, after an interview on British TV saw him claim that he had ‘no respect’ for current Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag and that most of his teammates weren’t good enough for Manchester United.
He has since been the subject of a mega-money offer from Saudi Arabia side Al Nassr, who offered him a three year contract which would be set to net him ~£186million across the duration of the offered terms.
However, it is thought that Ronaldo is keen to remain in Europe, having turned down a similar offer in the summer, and that once more the middle east efforts to land the Portugal star could be in vein.
What next for Ronaldo?Though he claimed that offers were coming in from around Europe over the summer, it seems as though plenty of clubs have turned their noses up at the striker, with Bayern Munich, Napoli, Manchester City, and Juventus all having publicly ruled out moves for the striker.
One potential destination, however, could be Chelsea. Todd Boehly was keen to make a move for the forward in the summer, and is not thought to have dimmed his interest, though whether he can convince head coach Graham Potter is another matter.
With Armando Broja ruled out for the remainder of the season, however, there could be a gap up top for the Blues, and Ronaldo available on a free transfer could be too good to turn down.
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