Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra thinks Cristiano Ronaldo may snub interest from Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr and retire instead.
Ronaldo is without a club heading into the January transfer window as his contract at Man Utd was mutually terminated last month.
This came after the 37-year-old hit out at Erik ten Hag, Ralf Rangnick and the Glazer family during his infamous interview with Piers Morgan.
The forward struggled to make an impact for Portugal at the World Cup and he started on the bench for their two knockout ties. His only goal at the tournament came via a penalty.
He is now searching for a club and it is being reported that the “only option” currently on the table for him is to join Al-Nassr.
It has been suggested that the middle east club would be willing to offer Ronaldo around £173m a year.
Al-Nassr president Musalli Al-Muammar has appeared to pour cold water on reports linking them with Ronaldo.
When asked about the former Man Utd star, he answered: “Who is Ronaldo? I don’t know him.”
This does not add up though Al-Muammar earlier suggested that they are “in negotiations” to sign Ronaldo.
Al-Muammar said: “Ronaldo is busy with the World Cup and I don’t think that he is in negotiations with anyone.”
Evra has been one of Ronaldo’s main ‘fanboys’ in recent months even while the attacker was making life difficult for Ten Hag.
But the defender has now admitted that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Ronaldo decided to retire.
“When I have talked to him I haven’t spoken about what he is going to do next,” Evra told Sky Sports.
“We have been talking more about life and family.
“But I don’t know [what he will do next]. Messi is saying he will retire [from the World Cup], but I don’t know if Ronaldo will retire, because, sometimes, when you are getting so much criticism, especially at the end of your career, you are like ‘OK, I think it’s time to stop’.
“That must be a feeling, especially when you are not in the starting XI of your national team, because that is what Cristiano wanted; to play, be fit and to win the World Cup with his country. This was his dream; now he doesn’t have that dream.
“Although I won’t talk for Cristiano, I wouldn’t be surprised if he says he is retiring. Now everything Cristiano does he is a ‘bad person’, a ‘bad player’ or whatever. I wouldn’t be surprised if he decides to retire.”
This is pretty unlikely as Ronaldo has reportedly already indicated that he intends to carry on playing for Portugal following their quarter-final exit in the World Cup.
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