Cristiano Ronaldo’s time in Saudi Arabia appears to be over.
The 40-year-old shared a cryptic message suggesting as much on Monday after his club team, Al Nassr FC, lost its final game of the season 3-2 to Al Fateh.
“This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Grateful to all,” Ronaldo wrote on social media.
The 40-year-old Portuguese national team star will be without a contract once his two-and-a-half-year contract with Al Nassr, valued at more than $312 million USD, expires next month.
He joined Al-Nassr in 2023 after his second stint with Manchester United ended with an ugly split. In 30 appearances this season, Ronaldo scored 25 goals.
During his time in the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo finished as the top goalscorer but his team never captured a league title.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino indicated that Ronaldo might play in the Club World Cup despite Al Nassr not qualifying for the tournament because of a unique transfer window.
“Cristiano Ronaldo might play in the Club World Cup,” Infantino told online streamer IShowSpeed, whose YouTube channel has more than 39 million subscribers. “There are discussions with some clubs, so if any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup, who knows. Still a few weeks time, will be fun.”
FIFA confirmed Wednesday that last-minute transfer signings are open to all teams going to tournament, which fueled more speculation that one of them will try to sign the 40-year-old Ronaldo on a short-term deal, potentially a loan.
Reports have linked Ronaldo to the one Saudi club that qualified, Al Hilal, the Brazilian club Palmeiras and Wydad of Morocco, even though that club is currently banned by FIFA from registering new signings.
Transfers can be made from June 1-10 and again from June 27-July 3, according to exceptional rules FIFA approved in October.
“The objective is to encourage clubs and players whose contracts are expiring to find an appropriate solution to facilitate the players’ participation,” FIFA said in Wednesday’s statement.
–With files from the Associated Press.