Saudis in talks with Ronaldo to stop him leaving the country: Reports
According to reports emanating from Portugal, Saudi Arabian officials are in "difficult" talks to keep Cristiano Ronaldo in the country.
Following a social media post where he declared the end of a certain 'chapter', Cristiano Ronaldo is engaged in talks with Saudi authorities over his future.
According to reports emanating from Portugal, Saudi Arabian officials are in "difficult" talks to keep Cristiano Ronaldo in the country, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told AFP on Thursday.
This comes after the star footballer suggested he was leaving his current club Al Nassr, with whom he won't be participating in the Club World Cup with, a fact that is said to absolutely frustrate him.
Reports declared that he would fancy a move to a different Saudi Club.
"There is an ongoing difficult negotiation to convince Ronaldo to stay and play" in the Saudi Pro League next season. First option is a transfer to Al Hilal with an opportunity to feature in the FIFA Club World Cup or to Asia champion Al Ahli," the source told AFP.
Ronaldo posted "This chapter is over" Monday night, hours after the Saudi Pro League officially ended with Al Nassr finishing third and once again ending trophyless, to the dismay of the unashamedly ambitious Portuguese star who has won everything in his career bar the World Cup.
A special transfer window opens from June 1-10 to allow the 32 teams involved in the Club World Cup to sign players.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino last week said "there are discussions" over the former United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Sporting Lisbon star playing at the enlarged tournament in the United States starting on June 14.
Portuguese forward Ronaldo, 40, joined Al Nassr in 2022 from Manchester United, and his contract expires at the end of next month.
"Ronaldo's presence is a key factor in developing the Saudi league in the last two years and a half. He opens the door for elite and young players to come to Saudi Arabia," the source added, saying that the Saudi authorities would use all the persuasion techniques in their locker to convince him to remain in the Middle Eastern nation.
