Cristiano Ronaldo headed back to Europe after Saudi deal flops

• Al-Nassr boss Rudi Garcia says Ronaldo will return to Europe
• Ronaldo hasn’t scored any goal since joining Al-Nassr
• He will have to go back to Europe and hunt for a new club

After so much fanfare and pomp in joining Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo is headed back to Europe.

According to Rudi Garcia, Al-Nassr’s boss, the terms of his contract changed with his first two games in which he failed to score for the club. This means that contrary to popular belief that he will end his football career in Saudi Arabia, he will have to return to Europe.

After completing a spectacular transfer to the Saudi Arabian club earlier this month, things haven’t quite gone according to plan for the Portuguese superstar. Close rivals Al-Ittihad eliminated Al-Nassr from the Saudi Super Cup on Thursday, with skipper Ronaldo blanked again after his goalless start last Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo to make debut against PSG.|PHOTO: Goal|

Garcia didn’t hold back when he criticised his new talisman for squandering a game-changing opportunity. Ronaldo’s missed opportunity in the first half was one factor that altered the game’s outcome and edged Al-Nassr out of the league.

The manager was blunt about what he believed to be wrong with the superstar Portuguese player’s integration into his club. According to Garcia, Ronaldo’s positioning was too similar to teammate Anderson Talisca’s, who also criticised his colleagues for passing to him too frequently.

Ronaldo decided to join the Saudi Arabian club after discovering that no European club was willing to extend him a contract in the summer of 2016. The player’s alternatives were constrained because of his high wage expectations, declining field performance, and growing age.

The former Manchester United player confidently concurred that his refusal to move to the Middle East demonstrated his eagerness to continue competing at the highest level in Europe. He said this during his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan that ended his association with Manchester United by mutual consent in November 2022.

He, however, changed his mind at the last minute and took up the offer, reportedly among the most lucrative in history.

Ronaldo said that he felt his time playing in Europe was done, and it was time for another challenge in Asia.

“I am fortunate that I have won everything I set out to win in European football. I feel now that this is the right moment to share my experience in Asia,” the Mirror reports.

Cristiano Ronaldo Al-Nassr. Photo by Ronaldo

However, Garcia said that though Ronaldo is a world-class player, he will have to return to Europe and end his career there.

“He is one of the best players in the world. He will not finish his career at Al-Nassr; he will return to Europe,” The Mirror further cites.

This is in opposition to reports from earlier this month, including those from ESPN indicating Ronaldo intended to retire with the team.

Ronaldo’s decision to finish his career in Saudi Arabia drew criticism in some circles. Following Messi’s World Cup victory, former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher disparaged him by drawing comparisons to Messi.

Carragher said that it was unfortunate that Ronaldo ended his international football career with a loss at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.