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The Al-Nassr star is currently in the final year of his contract which is set to expire in the summer of 2025. With no news of a potential extension, speculations have been rife about the Portuguese star considering leaving Saudi Arabia for a fresh challenge.
Cristiano Ronaldo. (AFP Photo)
Jose Mourinho has quashed rumours linking Cristiano Ronaldo to Fenerbahce. The Al-Nassr star is currently in the final year of his contract which is set to expire in the summer of 2025. With no news of a potential extension, speculations have been rife about the Portuguese star considering leaving Saudi Arabia for a fresh challenge. There were multiple speculations around the five-time Ballon d’Or winner looking to join Fenerbahce.
Ronaldo’s former coach has now suggested that the move was not happening. “News about Cristiano Ronaldo to Fenerbahce are ridiculous,” Mourinho said, as per multiple outlets.
Having addressed the rumours, Mourinho jokingly suggested that Cristiano Ronaldo could only make the trip to Turkey for food or to visit him. “Cristiano might come to Istanbul to eat because it’s right in the middle of the road between Saudi and Portugal,” the Fenerbahce manager said. Mourinho added that he would be open to welcoming his former player for a meal at his hotel. “Maybe he’ll come see his old friend Jose; we can eat at my hotel,” he said.
Ronaldo and Mourinho shared a brief tenure at Real Madrid. The Portuguese coach was appointed as the Real Madrid manager in the summer of 2010. The duo helped Real Madrid win LaLiga with 100 points in the 2011/12 season. They won the Copa del Rey in 2011 and the Supercopa de Espana in 2012. Yet, they could not make it past the Champions League semi-finals during their time together at the club.
Earlier this year, Mourinho recalled the 2012 Champions League semi-final where they lost to Bayern Munich on penalties. Mourinho revealed that he rang up Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes to inform him of his star forward’s devastation. “I told him (Jorge Mendes) I was too (dead), but I went, ‘Get ready, don’t cry and go to Cristiano’s home,’ I said to myself,” he recalled. Mourinho eventually left Real Madrid the following season for Chelsea, bringing his tenure with Ronaldo to an end.
As for the speculations, it has yet to be confirmed if Ronaldo will be leaving Al-Nassr in 2025. He has been instrumental in Al-Nassr’s success in recent years. Having signed for the club in 2023, Ronaldo led Al-Nassr to Arab Club Champions Cup glory in his debut season. He is currently preparing for Al-Nassr’s upcoming AFC Champions League fixture against Al Gharafa, scheduled to take place on November 25 at the Al Bayt Stadium.