Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is still without a club. It is still uncertain which club Ronaldo will represent in 2023. Since his days as a Manchester United player, Ronaldo was rumored to sign for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. The Saudi club offered him a bumper contract worth $1.07 billion.
A journalist from Qatar, however, tweeted about Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes canceling the deal with Al-Nassr. The journalist mentioned his source as ESPN and said Mendes had canceled the deal because Ronaldo attracted an offer from a UEFA Champions League playing club.
He tweeted in Arabic, here is the English translation: “Confirming what I said a few days ago. ESPN: Jorge Mendes, Cristiano Ronaldo’s agent, cut off negotiations with Al-Nasr Club after an offer arrived from a European club currently playing in the Champions League.”
🚨 تأكيداً لما قلته قبل عدة أيام.. ESPN: خورخي مينديز وكيل أعمال كرستيانو رونالدو، قطع المفاوضات مع نادي النصر بعد وصول عرض من نادي اوروبي يلعب حالياً في دوري ابطال اوروبا pic.twitter.com/AmOy52N1Xe
— محمد الكعبي (@Qatari) December 28, 2022
A few hours later, however, the journalist apologized for the blunder. It turns out that his source was wrong.
Journalist apologizes for blunder
Mohammed Alkaabi, the Qatari journalist who made the blunder apologized for his mistake around four later.
In his apology tweet, he stated: “The journalist apologized. He does not work for ESPN, but rather independently. In all cases, Ronaldo waits with Al-Nassr.. until he gets a European offer from a club that plays in the Champions. I repeat my apologies for the wrong transfer.”
🚨 اعتذر الصحفي لايعمل في ESPN وإنما بشكل مستقل، في جميع الاحوال رونالدو يتريث مع النصر .. حتى يحصل على عرض اوروبي من نادي يلعب في الابطال.. أكرر اعتذاري على النقل الخاطئ
— محمد الكعبي (@Qatari) December 28, 2022
He confirmed the fact that the Al-Nassr deal is still on the table. On the other hand, Ronaldo himself has denied anything about the links. A few weeks ago, during the FIFA World Cup 2022, Ronaldo was asked about his future and Al-Nassr links. He replied, “no, it is not true.”
The journalist apologized for the wrong transfer news but reiterated that Ronaldo is still looking to play in Europe.
Cristiano Ronaldo is waiting for a club that plays in the Champions League
As per the journalist’s tweets, it seems like Ronaldo is prioritizing UEFA Champions League football. Mendes is still looking out for offers from European clubs. Even with the massive paycheck on the table from Al-Nassr, Ronaldo’s priority seems to be European football and not money.
Breaking: Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect, the club have confirmed. pic.twitter.com/X2MjiLeExV
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 22, 2022
Ronaldo found himself in such a situation after he decided to give Piers Morgan a controversial interview. He stated things about Manchester United that the club was not ready to take from its own player. Therefore, it was mutually decided that the club and the player will part ways. Ronaldo has been a free agent since the contract termination.