Cristiano Ronaldo reveals surprising plans for his future at Al Nassr.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the global football icon, has just taken a definitive stance on his future at Al Nassr, and his statement could not be clearer: he “belongs” to Saudi Arabia. After a period of speculation and internal tensions, Ronaldo now appears confident and determined, assuring that he is happy in his new home and ready to lead his team to success.

The atmosphere at Al Nassr became tense when his former Real Madrid teammate, Karim Benzema, transferred to Al Hilal. This move deeply unsettled Ronaldo, to the point where he went on strike as a form of protest against the lack of ambition he felt within his team. Toni Kroos, also a former teammate of Ronaldo, publicly supported the Portuguese, deeming Al Nassr’s actions as “disrespectful” towards a player many consider the greatest of all time. However, Ronaldo quickly ended his three-match strike and returned to the field, demonstrating his determination by scoring a goal just 18 minutes after his comeback against Al Fateh.

“I am very happy,” Ronaldo declared to the Saudi broadcaster Thmanyah over the last weekend. “As I say so often, I belong to Saudi Arabia. It is a country that has welcomed me very well, along with my family and friends. I am happy here, I want to stay here. The most important thing is that we continue to fight [for the league title], we are up there at the top. We do our job, we win, we put pressure on, we will see at the end of the season.”

However, the question many are asking is: does Ronaldo really believe in his own words? His indignation over Benzema’s transfer does not seem to be a fleeting whim. The Portuguese, a natural winner throughout his career, has yet to replicate the same success at Al Nassr, despite having stars like Sadio Mané, Marcelo Brozović, Kingsley Coman, and compatriot João Félix on his team. On the other hand, Benzema has already won the Saudi League title with Al Ittihad and now has the opportunity to further his legacy at Al Hilal, which certainly does not sit well with Ronaldo.

Currently, the race for the league title is extremely tight, with only two points separating Al Nassr, Al Hilal, and Al Ahli, another club funded by the PIF. The situation is even more intriguing, as Al Hilal has lost six points in their last five matches, allowing Al Nassr, which has won all of its last five games, to take the lead in the table. It is important to note that Al Nassr has a superior goal difference compared to Al Hilal, but Benzema’s arrival has bolstered the rival team’s chances, a factor that undoubtedly causes discomfort for Ronaldo.

If Al Nassr fails to win the Saudi League title and does not significantly invest in the team in the upcoming transfer window, Ronaldo’s frustration may resurface. Despite €409 million (approximately $482 million) being invested since the 2023-24 season, Ronaldo’s first in Saudi Arabia, the question of whether this is insufficient investment remains open.

In terms of the future, Ronaldo has a contract with Al Nassr until the end of next season, which means that any interested party would need to pay a transfer fee to take him out of Saudi Arabia or reach a termination agreement. At this point in his career, with 42 years approaching in February, his options to return to one of the top European leagues seem limited. Exorbitant salaries and signing fees are significant barriers, in addition to the fact that his age is a limiting factor.

While the idea of joining Lionel Messi in MLS is a possibility, financial obstacles still apply, even for the wealthiest clubs. The most likely alternative is that Ronaldo focuses on cementing his legacy in Saudi Arabia, seeking to win the title with Al Nassr and, who knows, trying for one last chance to win the World Cup with Portugal before beginning to accept that retirement is on the horizon.