Doha: Brazil football legend Rivaldo said that Al Nassr striker Cristiano Ronaldo may have been 'fooled' by the contract he signed with Saudi club Al Nassr FC.
Speaking to sports magazine AS, Rivaldo said he understands the ‘trend’ of players going to play in Saudi Arabia, but says that “life there is more closed and the soccer is not as easy as they expect.”
Rivaldo asked if “the money he’s [Ronaldo] being paid make up for the not-so-happy life he’s living right now” and suggested that the Portuguese forward could possibly be going through a period of disappointment and reflection.
The Brazilian football legend suggested Ronaldo return to Real Madrid, adding that this return would be good for him and for football.”
“The fans have to understand that they can’t demand the same from him as they did when he was 25 or 26 years old, but he can still help the club achieve more”.
Forbes magazine recently listed the 38 year old Ronaldo as the highest paid athlete of 2023, with $136 million in total earnings placing him atop a list in which he edged other sports superstars like Lebron James, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi.
Last week, statements attributed to Catalan newspaper El Nacional stated that Ronaldo was unhappy and looking for a way out of Saudi Arabia, and that he misses his time in Spain, where he played for local giants Real Madrid CF.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, according to the newspaper, said that he would happily take Ronaldo back, but "not as a footballer."
