Rivaldo, a legendary player from Brazil, believes that Cristiano Ronaldo was “fooled by the big contract in Saudi Arabia,” and he recommends that the Portuguese megastar “return to Real Madrid to finish his career.”
The media has speculated that Ronaldo’s new contract with the Saudi club Al Nassr is worth more than around USD 220 million. Ronaldo left Manchester United last year and immediately signed with Al Nassr, where he will remain under contract until 2025.
Rivaldo further stated that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner “may be going through a phase of some disappointment and even reflection” after his first season with Al Nassr, who are currently in second place in the Saudi Pro League behind Al-Ittihad. Despite the riches and reception Ronaldo had received in his new club, Rivaldo said that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner “may be going through a phase of some disappointment and even reflection.”
According to a remark from Rivaldo given to Diario AS, the former player stated, “I understand that sometimes the players are fooled by the big contract they sign in Saudi Arabia.”
“But then life there is further away, and you may find that playing football there isn’t always as easy as you expected.”
“So, maybe the money he is receiving makes up for the not-so-happy life he is living at the moment,” said Rivaldo, a member of the World Cup-winning squad in 2002.
After a stellar run from 2009 to 2018 with Spanish powerhouses Real Madrid, during which he won two LaLiga championships, two Spanish Cups, four Champions League crowns, and three Club World Cups, Ronaldo came in Saudi Arabia with a significant collection of club honors under his belt. Before returning to United, with whom he had won three Premier League championships, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Champions League, and the Club World Cup, he won two Serie A titles and one Coppa Italia trophy in three years while playing for Juventus. He also won the Club World Cup with United.
The current No. 10 for Real Madrid believes that it “would be good for him and for football” if Cristiano Ronaldo finished his career playing for Real Madrid rather than Barcelona.