Cristiano Ronaldo, the iconic 39-year-old Portuguese star and current captain of Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, has ignited excitement among fans with hints of a potential return to his roots at Sporting Lisbon. The buzz started after Ronaldo shared an intriguing post on his Instagram, leaving fans speculating about his next move.
Since his move to the Middle East, Ronaldo has been in impressive form, netting 58 goals and providing 15 assists in 64 appearances. However, his performance at EURO 2024 was less than stellar, as he went goalless in all five matches, and Portugal’s campaign ended in heartbreak with a penalty shootout loss to France in the quarter-finals.
After the disappointing tournament in Germany, Ronaldo took the opportunity to rest with his family. In an Instagram post, he shared a photo of himself resting during a game of padel tennis.
However, with 635 million followers paying attention, one specific detail in the photo caught fans’ attention: a cap with the Sporting Lisbon logo was on the table next to Ronaldo.
Ronaldo began his career at Sporting Lisbon before moving to Manchester United in 2003. The sight of his former club’s cap sparked rumors of a possible return to Sporting.
“Ronaldo will certainly return to Sporting Lisbon. He still has a special affection for his old club”, commented a fan, receiving many likes.
“Ronaldo will return to Sporting Lisbon”, “I’m sure he loves his old club very much”, “Ronaldo never forgets the club where he started”, “Ronaldo’s heart is always focused on Sporting Lisbon” were some of the comments from emphasis.
However, the possibility of Ronaldo returning to Sporting Lisbon seems low. His contract with Al Nassr runs until 2025 and, if Ronaldo does not retire by then, the Portuguese club will hardly have the financial resources to cover his salary. It is worth remembering that Ronaldo receives 200 million euros per year at Al Nassr.
Responding to the rumors, Ronaldo declared: “I have enormous affection for Sporting Lisbon, but I am focused on my current challenges with Al Nassr. The future, only time will tell.”
This statement from Ronaldo puts an end to speculation, at least for now, keeping fans guessing about the next chapters of his career.
