Al-Nassr attacker Cristiano Ronaldo had once asserted that he would like to ply his trade in the Major League Soccer (MLS), hailing the American league’s growth and potential
The Portugal star was at the peak of his powers during his excellent nine-year stint at Real Madrid. He left Los Merengues in 2018 and joined Serie A giants Juventus, where he relished a fine three-year spell
Ronaldo, 39, subsequently rejoined Manchester United in the summer of 2021 and endured a tough time acclimatising at his former club. He suffered a fallout with ex-Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag and joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr on a free transfer in January 2023
However, the 216-cap Portugal international had stated that he wanted to move to the MLS back in 2016.
I know that many players move there. I think it’s becoming better and better. It’s growing. I think it’s good. It’s good for me and young players that maybe one day we want to move there. So it’s good that football – ‘soccer’ – grows there.”
Sharing further thoughts on a potential move, the striker added:
“I mean, what’s happening there is great, it’s fantastic. Maybe in the future will be a good chance for me to play there. You never know, but it’s something interesting. I consider it, of course, because as I’ve said, soccer there has become better and better, so why not? I think that this is maybe going to be possible.”
With his Al-Nassr contract set to run out next June, Ronaldo could seal a Bosman move to an American club for a final big payday in 2025.
Cristiano Ronaldo once claimed that Saudi Pro League is a better domestic league than MLS
Ahead of the start of the 2023-24 campaign, Cristiano Ronaldo had suggested that the Saudi Pro League is better than the MLS.
The Saudi league is better than MLS. I opened the way to the Saudi league, and now all the players are coming here. In one year, more and more top players will come to Saudi. In a year, the Saudi league will overtake the Turkish league and Dutch league.”
According to Transfermarkt, Ronaldo has scored 67 goals and provided 18 assists in 77 appearances across all competitions for Al-Nassr
