Cristiano Ronaldo Rejects Notions of Being “Lost” After Manchester United Exit
Cristiano Ronaldo has refuted claims that he felt “lost” after leaving Manchester United, asserting that his move to Saudi side Al-Nassr provided him with renewed motivation. Ronaldo’s departure from Old Trafford in December 2022 followed a candid interview with Piers Morgan, where he criticized the club’s operations, leading to the termination of his contract.
Many speculated that the move to Saudi Arabia would lead to a decline in Ronaldo’s career, but the 38-year-old forward has now emphasized that it fueled his determination.
In an interview with Portuguese outlet Record after being named the top scorer in the world at the Globe Soccer Awards, Ronaldo stated: “I know that I can provide a lot of goals for Al Nassr and the national team, so it was incredible on a personal level to score 54 goals. If you go back and see what happened at Manchester United and the national team, people actually considered me lost, but the truth is that I focused and had a great period of preparation for the new season with Al Nassr, me and the technical staff led by Castro.”
Ronaldo highlighted the importance of the technical staff at Al Nassr, led by coach Castro, in motivating him for a successful season. He expressed pride in his achievements, scoring 54 goals for Al-Nassr, emphasizing that scoring goals is challenging regardless of the league.
He continued: “I think they were important in motivating me to have a great season, and it’s clear that I was surprised in that aspect, but it didn’t surprise me in winning. I know that I still have a lot of possibilities to offer, and I know that I can provide a lot of goals for Al Nassr and the national team, so it was incredible on a personal level.”
“As you said, well, the 54 goals I scored, there may be those who say it’s easier because I’m in Saudi Arabia. But football professionals know that it is difficult to score goals, whether in Saudi Arabia or in Italy, Spain or Portugal. A goal is a goal. In a way, I feel even more proud to have beaten Haaland, Mbappé and Kane.”
Despite his move to the Saudi Arabian league, Ronaldo emphasized that a goal is a goal, and he takes pride in surpassing other top strikers like Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, and Harry Kane in terms of goal tally.
Since joining Al-Nassr, Ronaldo has been prolific, scoring 38 goals in 44 games across all competitions. He continues to be a key figure for both his club and the Portuguese national team. Ronaldo’s next competitive appearance is expected in mid-February in the AFC Champions League against Al-Feiha.