Cristiano Ronaldo has not dismissed the possibility of transferring to Manchester City, offering a response when questioned about the prospect of joining Pep Guardiola’s team.
Al-Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo has remained reserved regarding a possible move to Manchester City, despite the Premier League champions’ current struggles this season.
The 39-year-old forward, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history due to his success at Manchester United and Real Madrid, rejoined United in 2021 before making a free transfer to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in early 2023.
Before his second stint with the Red Devils, Ronaldo was reportedly linked with Manchester City. When asked about City’s recent challenges at the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards (via TEAMtalk), he commented:
“Teams go through phases—difficult times, good times. City are in a challenging moment, but I’m 100 percent sure they’ll bounce back. Big teams and players are smart enough to identify and resolve issues.”
He further praised Pep Guardiola, adding:
“Guardiola is a very intelligent coach. He knows where the problems lie, and they will recover, as they always do.”
When asked about potentially joining Manchester City in the future, Ronaldo responded:
“You never know what could happen.”
Manchester City, who have dominated the league with four consecutive titles, are enduring a poor run, winning only two of their last 14 matches in all competitions while conceding 28 goals. Their next Premier League match is against West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on January 4.
Ronaldo on Ligue 1 vs. Saudi Pro League
At the Globe Soccer Awards, Ronaldo reiterated his belief that the Saudi Pro League offers tougher competition than Ligue 1. The 215-cap Portugal international stated (via GOAL):
“The Saudi Pro League is better than Ligue 1, of course. It’s not just because I play here. Players should experience it—try sprinting at 38, 39, or 40 degrees. In France, they only have PSG; the rest are not competitive.”
Meanwhile, PSG, winners of 10 of the last 12 Ligue 1 titles, currently lead the league with 40 points from 16 matches. Ronaldo will next feature for Al-Nassr in a Saudi Pro League match against Al-Okhdood on January
9 at Al-Awwal Park.
