Cristiano Ronaldo has been rejected by a Champions League club, according to reports, amid claims he is ‘desperate’ to return to European football.
Ronaldo also played in English football twice with Manchester United between 2003 and 2009, and with Sporting Lisbon, Real Madrid and Juventus between 2021 and 2022.
He is now playing for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, where he was named as the world’s top goalscorer in selected major leagues in 2023.
The 39-year-old has spoken openly about retirement in recent months, telling be in sports: “I’m planning my retirement, whether that’s in a year or two, I don’t know. I’ll be 40 soon, and as long as I feel motivated, I’ll keep going.”
Ronaldo’s Al Nassr contract runs until this summer, and he told the club’s media channel that he and his family ‘Happy‘ in Saudi Arabia.
Cristiano Ronaldo (right) pictured with Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois at the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards (Image: Getty)
But he has now been linked with a move back to Europe ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Ronaldo has not ruled out returning to Europe – but one club has decided not to sign him.
PSG have turned down the chance to sign the Portugal legend and financial reasons have been cited as the main reason behind their decision not to pursue the move.
It is claimed that manager Luis Enrique is focused on ‘signing’players with long term projection‘, a transfer policy that was used throughout the summer to bring in the likes of Desire Dou, Joao Neves and Willian Pacho.
The report adds that Ronaldo’s high wages in Saudi Arabia have become a ‘barrier’ to European clubs attempting to sign him, despite the forward’s aim to ‘remain in the elite class’ ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Is trying.
However, given the 39-year-old’s recent comments about Ligue 1 compared to the Saudi Pro League, a move to PSG may have come as a surprise.
Speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai last month, he said: “The French League? Absolutely [it is worse than the Saudi Pro League]Only in France there is PSG, everything else is gone.
“That’s my opinion. In France it’s only PSG, sorry. Others compete, OK. But PSG is the strongest – nobody competes with them.”
“They have better players. They are a club with more money. It’s a fact, and I don’t understand why people are so surprised.”