There has been a lot of speculation regarding the future of Cristiano Ronaldo as an active footballer. His contract with Al-Nassr ends next June 30, and his next step is a complete mystery. At times, the possibility of leaving, even if only temporarily, to play in the Club World Cup gained momentum... An option the Portuguese forward himself has just publicly ruled out, generating a sense of relief among Real Madrid.
When asked about the possibility of playing in the Club World Cup in the United States, he said: "It's irrelevant, what's important is the National Team. Although yes, there were many contacts, some meaningful and others not. I'm not going to the Club World Cup, but I've received many invitations."
Cristiano Ronaldo will not face Real Madrid
Speculation suggested that Cristiano Ronaldo could've ended up at Al-Hilal, the main rival of his Al-Nassr and future opponent of Madrid in the group stage of the World Cup. If this had happened, Ronaldo would've faced Real Madrid in this tournament revamped by FIFA, which would've caused some tension.
Despite being 40 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo still has a great goal-scoring instinct and can score against anyone. This season, he has scored 35 goals and provided 4 assists in 41 matches in Saudi Arabia. If he had played in the Club World Cup, he would've been a major threat to Real Madrid in that match.
By completely ruling out this possibility, there is a sense of relief at Santiago Bernabéu. Florentino Pérez and Xabi have applauded the news, already knowing they won't have to face a former acquaintance of Cristiano's caliber.
The plan is clear: He will remain active
When also asked about his future as a professional now that he is 40 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo has already made it clear that his plan is to keep playing.
"I live day by day, in the present, and I don't think too much about the future. That's what I've instilled in my life. I don't have many more years left to play, my career speaks for itself. But I'm enjoying the moment. Maybe tomorrow I'll wake up and say I don't feel like playing anymore. But right now I don't feel that way, I'm very happy. It's not the same as when you win, but I'm enjoying it, let's see what happens," he said.
Right now, though, his next team is a complete mystery. He's weighing all the possibilities he has on the table, which are certainly not few.