Cristiano Ronaldo has stated that he is interested in owning a football club after retiring from the game in “two to three years maximum.” The Portuguese international has a contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr until June 2025, but he is already thinking about his next move.
“I don’t rule out becoming a club owner,”
the 38-year-old, told reporters during an event in Madrid for his new bottled water business venture.
“It’s something I thought about a few years back. I probably would like to own a [football] club. I’m at the end of my career, two to three years maximum.”
Meanwhile, Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in January after leaving Manchester United, praised former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema’s decision to join the Saudi Pro League. The 35-year-old Benzema left Real Madrid after a one-year contract extension and joined Saudi champions Al Ittihad.
“I knew that by me going to [Saudi] Arabia I would open the box. Karim [Benzema] has gone there but I’m sure many others will follow. In two or three years, it [Saudi Pro League] will be one of the most important in the world. May all the stars come to Arabia, there are no problems with the league. What we want is competition.”
The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner scored 354 goals in 648 matches for Real Madrid, winning a club record 25 trophies, including four LaLiga titles, five Champions Leagues, three Copas del Rey, four Spanish Supercopas, four UEFA Super Cups, and five FIFA Club World Cups.
Benzema had 31 goals and six assists in 43 games last season despite an injury-plagued season that saw him forced out of France’s World Cup squad. Benzema was instrumental in Real Madrid’s 2021-22 season, scoring 27 LaLiga goals and 15 Champions League goals as the club won both trophies.
Lionel Messi is one player who will not be joining them. The Argentina forward turned down a lucrative offer from Saudi club Al Hilal and confirmed on Wednesday that he will join Inter Miami CF as a free agent after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires on June 30.
