6 Landing Spots for Cristiano Ronaldo Amid Transfer Rumors

“This chapter is over.”

Strong words from Cristiano Ronaldo, who appears to be angling for a move away from the mega riches of Saudi Arabia. His less-than-cryptic tweet suggests he may soon don the shirt of another team, perhaps with the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in mind.

A potential short-term deal is likely to interest several clubs. Which options make sense for the Portuguese legend at 40? Let’s take a look.

Sporting CP

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You may have heard about a certain Sporting striker this season. Viktor Gyokeres’ incredible output will earn him a major move, leaving a chasm up front for the Portuguese champions. How do you replace his 45 goals across the domestic division and UEFA Champions League?

Well, in truth, it would take more than Ronaldo to do so. That doesn’t mean he can’t fill in and offer Rui Borges an option, though. CR7 returning to where he came to prominence would be a beautiful bookend to an iconic career.

He could also work a path into coaching there if he wanted it, with Sporting's history allowing young managers such as Marco Silva and Ruben Amorim to develop their craft.

Galatasaray

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Many people were surprised when Victor Osimhen joined Galatasaray on loan last summer. The Nigerian striker was expected to command a huge fee and end up at a club with major spending power.

Gala’s opportunism unearthed one of the deals of the season as the 26-year-old scored over 30 goals and led them to a pretty simple league title.

Napoli will be desperate to cash in this summer. Osimhen has two years left on his contract and each passing week is a tick closer to him running it down for free. Gala won’t be able to compete if he's to command a giant fee. They could get smart when looking for a replacement, though.

Ronaldo is still sharp enough to have fun in Turkey. He would also get another crack at adding to his Champions League record, which stands just 10 goals shy of 150.

Major League Soccer

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There are a couple of potentially interesting routes for Ronaldo in the United States.

Let's get the obvious one out of the way: CR7 and Lionel Messi together at Inter Miami would be tremendous for the press coverage. It would also play havoc with Miami’s adherence to the wage cap and cause a few headaches on the pitch.

With that said, FIFA president Gianni Infantino would probably throb with delight if the pair teamed up at what is looking to be an underwhelming Club World Cup.

LAFC would be another intriguing option and could tick a few boxes for Ronaldo's future. In the immediate? He would get to play in FIFA's pre-season, ahem, important tournament. He'd also have a ton of career opportunities in Hollywood in his backyard.

We all know footballers make incredible actors; Michael Owen’s Dubai promo told us that. CR7 could make a hatful just by being in the right place.

Manchester United

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Try not to laugh. If you write it down, there are a few reasons why Ronaldo returning to United for a third spell could make the tiniest smidgen of sense.

Firstly, his exit during the Erik ten Hag era was undignified. He didn't get much of a farewell and the fairytale rapidly unravelled. Changing that could be a real motivation. Next, add United's need for someone who knows how to hit the back of the net. A mentor is crucial if Rasmus Hojlund is to stay after a disappointing time in front of goal with the club.

After that, Ronaldo's presence could provide Amorim with a key leader in the dressing room. They would be able to communicate clearly. There will also be a lack of dominant personalities in the squad if Bruno Fernandes is sold.

Disregard the fact that it would continue to obliterate the finances of a club that is currently eating beans. Disregard the fact that Ronaldo looked slow last time he played in the Premier League. Disregard all the warning signs and it might, possibly, seem plausible.

Another Saudi Club

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If Ronaldo isn't to continue at Al-Nassr, maybe Al-Hilal or another Saudi club makes sense? His family is already settled there and another upheaval so close to the end of his career could be a lot to ask if the next move isn't a long-term one.

More importantly for Ronaldo himself, the Saudi league is the right level for him to still excel. His body couldn't quite keep up at United and during Euro 2024 with Portugal. That will only become more pronounced in the top leagues as time moves on.

There must be a temptation to stay in Saudi Arabia, with huge money, in the knowledge he wouldn't have to worry about dropping off.

Any Club World Cup Team

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Ronaldo has the opportunity to set a precedent with his next move. It's no secret that the Club World Cup could use more star power.

CR7 joining any participant on a super-short contract could be lucrative for a lot of different parties.

The player gets a shot at winning the inaugural event. He would also get the chance to become a legend at another club, and, of course, he would get paid handsomely.

Rumours of Monterrey and Botafogo make sense; big teams in different cultures with passionate fanbases. That has to be alluring. The notion that it would open the floodgates on short-term deals just for the tournament might also be coveted by Ronaldo, whose career is defined by setting trends.