5 Landing Spots for Cristiano Ronaldo Amid Transfer Rumors With Al-Nassr

And you thought the transfer action was closed earlier this week.

There appears to be room for one more drama this winter, as Cristiano Ronaldo and his Saudi club side Al-Nassr appear to be at a breaking point.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus star, who reportedly feels "betrayed" by the lack of transfer business made by Al-Nassr, the strengthening of rival Saudi side Al-Hilal, and looks ready to move on. With 18 months left on his contract and a $59 million release clause, the time might have come for a move away.

The Portuguese star has an astronomical salary in Saudi Arabia, amounting to over $ 670,000 per day, and the pool of clubs that will want to tempt him to continue playing will be limited. Still, there are a few athletes in the world who bring an impact that Ronaldo would bring, both on and off the pitch.

With all that in mind, let's look at some potential destinations for Ronaldo amid all the turmoil that surrounds him.

Al-Hilal

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Karim Benzema

The easiest solution for Ronaldo and the backers of the Saudi Pro League would be an internal one.

Al-Nassr's inability to keep up with league rivals Al-Hilal would undoubtedly irk a hyper-competitive individual like him. Al-Hilal currently leads the league with a three-point advantage, with the added advantage of buying Ronaldo's former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema during the 2026 Winter Transfer Window.

Could a simple transfer to Al-Hilal placate Ronaldo's demands?

The Saudi league would be loath to lose Ronaldo, and a move away from his current club to one that is strengthening makes all the sense in the world.

And while they're no longer at the peak of their powers, a reunion between Ronaldo and Benzema would certainly revive memories of their swashbuckling best when they were in the Spanish capital.

MLS

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Lionel Messi

Could the Ronaldo-Messi rivalry be revived on North American soil?

Or, even more exciting: could Ronaldo and Messi become teammates?

You can never say never in football, and a Ronaldo-to-Major League Soccer transfer wouldn't be the most outlandish thing you've ever heard of.

Inter Miami currently has one designated player spot remaining, and while criticism that MLS is a retirement league would be warranted, it's hard not to wonder what a Messi-Ronaldo link-up would look like. Should Ronaldo not want to share the spotlight with his greatest rival, you can be sure other teams in the league wouldn't shy away from bringing Ronaldo in.

If an opportunity for a transfer to an MLS club materializes, you have to think Commissioner Don Garber would look to pounce to make it happen.

Manchester United

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Admittedly, this is probably the longest shot on our list. And we've already seen what a reunion looks like when the iconic No. 7 returned to Old Trafford.

Nevertheless, there are plenty of Manchester United fans that wished Cristiano never left.

Sure, it didn't work the last time and there might be bad blood from his last time in England.

But there is a certain logic to another stint in the red shirt of Manchester United. The Red Devils are a rebuilding side, and who better to spur the rebuild than one of the club's greatest legends? His professionalism and will to win are second to none and could be a guiding light for some of United's youngsters. Like his second stint, a former teammate is currently at the helm, with Michael Carrick well aware of what Ronaldo brings to the table.

The trick would be to convince Cristiano that his minutes need to be managed and that he should be a more impactful player in spot starts and off the bench. After all, what would be more fearful for the opposition than having one of the best goal scorers of all time come to the rescue of United yet again?

With the way it previously ended, what better way to finish out his career than righting a wrong in Manchester?

A Serie A Club

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Ronaldo, holding the Serie A Title with Juventus in 2020

Serie A is no stranger to having older players in the league.

Think of some of the greats in the game. Maldini. Ibrahimhovic. Zanetti. Del Piero. All players who took care of themselves and still played in Serie A at a respectable level, even in the twilight of their careers.

Ronaldo isn't a stranger to Italy, having won the Scudetto with Juventus. And while no club in Italy could match the wages that he would demand, the competitor in Ronaldo would must wonder if he could still make defenders look silly in a top-five European league.

The Italian league's slower pace and more tactical style of play would also suit Ronaldo's aging legs. Depending on the club, it's also another route into the Champions League, a tournament in which Cristiano shines.

It's an attractive option, albeit a less-than-realistic one.

Sporting CP

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Who says you can't come home again?

OK, Cristiano himself has said he doesn't see finishing his career in Lisbon with his boyhood club. But as with all things in life, things change.

The thought of Ronaldo putting the finishing touches on an illustrious career with Sporting must surely have crossed his mind a few times. And his record in Portugal was actually quite limited - he only played 25 first games and scored just three goals before his transfer to Manchester United in 2003.

And while the Portuguese league is not on the same level as some of the other top European leagues, Sporting is always one of the top Portuguese contenders for the Champions League. For a man who's been dubbed "Mr. Champions League", that certainly would appeal to him.

Wage demands would need to decrease significantly, and any transfer fee to Saudi Arabia would have to be minimal. But no one could deny the romance of Ronaldo returning to where it all started.