Rudi Garcia, manager of Al-Nassr, has praised Cristiano Ronaldo as a “great star” and stated that he would welcome the opportunity to work with the Portuguese veteran.
Ronaldo is looking for a new club after leaving Manchester United by mutual consent after his scathing interview with Piers Morgan.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner verbally attacked Erik ten Hag, as well as the Glazer family, while admitting he had no respect for the current Red Devils manager.
Ronaldo’s search for a new club Al-Nassr is expected to intensify in the New Year following Portugal’s World Cup quarter-final exit to Morocco, and a move to Saudi Arabia has been strongly suggested.
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Al-Nassr is reportedly willing to make the 37-year-old the highest-paid player in the world with a contract worth €200 million (£171.9 million), but he is still weighing his options and is still hoping to play in the Champions League.
“I think any coach would be delighted to train a great star like Cristiano,” Garcia told AS.
“The last images are Cristiano’s tears going to the dressing room [dressing room].
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It was an exciting moment, very strong, possibly his last World Cup game, and on the other hand, there was the Moroccans’ emotion.
“I commented on the match for TF1. On December 18, in the final, I will recall these quarter-finals because of the emotions felt, both by Morocco and Cristiano.
“I can’t say anything about Cristiano because it would immediately make headlines: ‘Garcia: about Ronaldo’. What I see is that it has been a soap opera and an important promotional tool for Al Nassr.”
Ronaldo drew interest from Manchester City before returning to Manchester United in 2021, where he scored 24 goals across all competitions in his first season back.
However, after missing a significant portion of pre-season, the ex-Real Madrid and Juventus man was unable to force his way into Ten Hag’s starting XI on a consistent basis, and he also scored just one goal in five World Cup matches.
Ronaldo started all three group matches before coming off the bench against Switzerland in the last 16, where Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick in his place.
FIFA World Cup Live Streaming 2022-Watch all 64 Match Live Here
The 37-year-old came off the bench early in the second half against Morocco in the last eight, but A Selecao lost 1-0, effectively ending his chances of ever winning the World Cup.
Ronaldo hinted on social media that he would no longer represent Portugal after the 2022 World Cup, but it has been reported that the attacker has no plans to retire from international football in the near future.
Portugal won Euro 2016 with Ronaldo in the squad, despite being taken off injured in the final against France, and he is said to be determined to lead his country to continental glory once more in 2024.
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