Last year, Cristiano Ronaldo left the soccer world in disbelief after he moved to Saudi Arabia. The Portuguese superstar made a shock move to Al Nassr by penning a mouth-watering contract. Since then, the player has enjoyed quite the ups and downs at his new club.
His decision to leave Europe and play in a foreign league is something many questions to this day. While CR7 was keen to stay in Europe, interested clubs had constant second thoughts about his move. In fact, an eyebrow-raising fact has come to light that Ronaldo actually had a chance to play for another Premier League side after his departure from Manchester United.
Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to join Arsenal
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Ronaldo’s last club in Europe was United, with whom he parted ways in a bitter way. Following his exit, the player was desperately trying to find a potential club that could afford his services. Among those clubs were the Red Devils’ arch-rivals, Arsenal. This comes after the recent claims made by Piers Morgan. The famous journalist reckons that Ronaldo wanted to join Arsenal. However, it was the Gunners who passed on the offer.
Morgan, both a Ronaldo and Arsenal fan, tweeted that they would have won the league, had they signed the 38-year-old. “Mock all you like, but if we’d signed Ronaldo when he left Utd, until the end of the season – as he was keen to do btw – we would have won the League. He knows how to win major trophies, and how to score goals when it really matters,” he tweeted.
Mock all you like, but if we’d signed Ronaldo when he left Utd, until the end of the season – as he was keen to do btw – we would have won the League. He knows how to win major trophies, and how to score goals when it really matters. https://t.co/nxRhDCONRC
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 16, 2023
Although Arsenal did bring in some reinforcements in the January transfer window, they didn’t consider his signing paramount. Morgan insists that the veteran was happy to choose the Gunners if the club had expressed interest in him. However, they missed their chance, and they are currently contemplating what could have been after losing a 12-point lead to Manchester City in the 2022–23 title race.
READ MORE: “He’s Ruining Everything” – Cristiano Ronaldo Branded ‘Detestable’ Over Disappointing Al Nassr Form
Indeed, the move would have surely changed the fate of Arteta. Moreover, Ronaldo would have also fancied a move to the Emirates Stadium, where he himself was going through a catastrophe at his new club.
Domestic problems continue with Al Nassr
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It hasn’t been going well for Ronaldo at Al Nassr. It has been just six months since he joined the Middle Eastern side, and the player is reportedly looking at the exit door. The star signing has been the subject of criticism from Saudi fans. In fact, a lot has happened since his arrival at the club.
Not one, but Al Nassr has been eliminated from three major competitions. Things escalated even more for them after they saw two departures from the club. The first one was the manager, Rudi Garcia, and the second was the club’s president, Musalli Al-Muammar. Indeed, Ronaldo and Co. are going through tough times. Now they have a chance to win at least one trophy, but that is also tough for them given their position at the table.
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Do you think Ronaldo will be able to bring his side back on track? Also, what are your thoughts on Arsenal’s chance of signing CR7? Let us know in the comments.