The doors closed, so he took the only path still open
Aos 37 anos, Cristiano Ronaldo encerra o seu capítulo europeu ao assinar com o Al Nassr, da Arábia Saudita — um desfecho que nenhum guião anteciparia para um dos maiores jogadores da história do futebol. Depois de uma saída conturbada do Manchester United e de portas fechadas nos grandes clubes europeus, o português encontrou no Golfo Pérsico não uma rendição, mas uma nova arena. O acordo, negociado pelo agente Jorge Mendes, estende-se até 2025, acompanhando Ronaldo até aos quarenta anos e assinalando, em simultâneo, a ambição crescente da Arábia Saudita no xadrez global do futebol.
- A rescisão abrupta com o Manchester United, acelerada por uma entrevista polémica a Piers Morgan, deixou Ronaldo sem clube às portas do Mundial do Qatar.
- Semanas de especulação intensa sobre um regresso à elite europeia terminaram sem qualquer proposta concreta dos grandes clubes do continente.
- Jorge Mendes viajou pessoalmente até à Arábia Saudita para fechar os detalhes finais, sinalizando que a negociação exigiu presença e empenho direto.
- O salário acordado ficou abaixo dos €200 milhões anuais noticiados inicialmente, mas o contrato de três anos garante estabilidade até ao fim da carreira.
- Com 819 golos em 1147 jogos oficiais e recordista de golos em seleções, Ronaldo chega ao Al Nassr como o maior trunfo de marketing do futebol árabe.
O jornal desportivo espanhol As avançou na quarta-feira à noite que Cristiano Ronaldo chegou a acordo com o Al Nassr, clube da Arábia Saudita, pondo fim a semanas de incerteza sobre o seu futuro. O contrato, negociado pelo agente Jorge Mendes durante uma deslocação ao reino, vai até 2025 — três anos que levarão o avançado português até aos quarenta anos de idade. O salário ficou aquém dos €200 milhões anuais que circulavam na imprensa, mas o acordo estava estruturado a meio da semana.
A mudança surge após um fim turbulento no Manchester United. Ronaldo rescindiu com o clube inglês antes do início do Mundial do Qatar, poucos dias depois de uma entrevista combativa ao jornalista Piers Morgan em que criticou abertamente a direção do clube. Tinha deixado claro que preferia continuar na Europa, de preferência numa equipa a disputar a Liga dos Campeões — competição que venceu por cinco vezes. Mas as portas foram-se fechando, e a proposta saudita tornou-se o único caminho.
A carreira que o conduziu até aqui é de dimensão histórica. Formado no Sporting, revelou-se no Manchester United, tornou-se o maior marcador de sempre do Real Madrid, passou pela Juventus e regressou a Old Trafford numa segunda etapa menos conseguida. Ao todo, 819 golos em 1147 jogos oficiais, incluindo 118 pela seleção portuguesa — recorde absoluto de golos em seleções, superando o iraniano Ali Daei. No palmarés, cinco Ligas dos Campeões, quatro Mundiais de Clubes, três títulos ingleses, dois italianos, dois espanhóis, o Euro 2016 e a Liga das Nações de 2019.
A transferência para o Al Nassr é também um sinal dos tempos: a Arábia Saudita afirma-se como destino de referência para estrelas mundiais no final das suas carreiras, investindo recursos consideráveis para atrair nomes que a Europa já não disputa. Para Ronaldo, o contrato de três anos escreverá o capítulo final de uma história que começou num campo de treinos em Lisboa e chegou aos confins do futebol global.
Spanish sports newspaper As reported Wednesday evening that Cristiano Ronaldo had reached an agreement with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, ending weeks of speculation about where the Portuguese forward would play next. The deal, brokered by his agent Jorge Mendes during a trip to the kingdom, would keep Ronaldo under contract through 2025—a three-year commitment that would see him playing in the Saudi league until he turned forty.
The reported salary fell short of the €200 million per year that had circulated in earlier reports. Mendes had traveled to Saudi Arabia to finalize the remaining details, and by midweek the framework was in place. For Ronaldo, the move represented a significant pivot after months of pursuing a return to European football's elite tier.
Just weeks earlier, Ronaldo had terminated his contract with Manchester United before the World Cup began in Qatar, a split that came days after he gave a combative interview to British broadcaster Piers Morgan in which he criticized the state of the English club. At thirty-seven, he had made clear his preference for a European team competing in the Champions League—the competition where he had won five titles and cemented his legacy as one of football's greatest scorers. But as one opportunity after another closed, the Saudi offer became the path forward.
His journey to this point had been extraordinary. Signed by Manchester United as a teenager after his time at Sporting's academy, Ronaldo spent six seasons at Old Trafford before moving to Real Madrid, where he became the club's all-time leading goalscorer. Three seasons at Juventus followed, then a return to Manchester United that proved less successful than his first stint. The termination in late 2022 marked the end of his European chapter.
By the time he agreed to join Al Nassr, Ronaldo had played 1,147 official matches across his career and scored 819 goals. Of those, 118 came while wearing Portugal's colors, a tally that made him international football's all-time leading goalscorer, surpassing Iran's Ali Daei. At the club level, his trophy cabinet included five Champions League titles, four Club World Cups, two European Super Cups, three English league titles, two Italian championships, two Spanish league crowns, and numerous domestic cups. For his country, he had won the 2016 European Championship and the 2019 Nations League.
The move to Al Nassr signaled a broader shift in global football, with Saudi Arabia increasingly willing to deploy substantial resources to attract established stars in their twilight years. For Ronaldo, it offered a chance to continue playing at a high level while the European clubs he had hoped would come calling had chosen other paths. The three-year contract would define the final chapter of his playing career, taking him into his fifth decade.
Citas Notables
Ronaldo had made clear his preference for a European team competing in the Champions League, but as one opportunity after another closed, the Saudi offer became the path forward— reporting from As and context of negotiations
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why did Ronaldo accept Saudi Arabia when he'd been so clear about wanting Europe?
Because the doors closed. He wanted Champions League football, but no major European club made a serious move for him. At thirty-seven, after the Manchester United mess, his options narrowed fast.
Was the money the deciding factor?
It was part of it, but not the whole story. The salary was less than reported—under €200 million annually. What mattered more was that it was the only offer that kept him playing at a professional level.
How does this change his legacy?
It doesn't erase what he's done. He's still the international game's all-time leading scorer, still won five Champions Leagues. But it does mark where his career ends—not in Europe, not at a club competing for the biggest trophies, but in a league that's still building itself.
What does this say about Saudi football?
That they're willing to spend heavily to raise their profile. Ronaldo is a global icon. Bringing him to Al Nassr isn't just about winning matches—it's about legitimacy and attention on a world stage.
Could he have stayed in Europe if he'd been willing to take less money?
Possibly. But at that point, after the Morgan interview and the Manchester United termination, the damage was done. Clubs were hesitant. Saudi Arabia wasn't.