
Ronaldo teases about future by saying 'chapter is over' with Al-Nassr
Ronaldo teases about future by saying 'chapter is over' with Al-Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo's time at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr might be done.
The 40-year-old Portugal striker posted a message on social media hours after the final round of the Saudi Pro League late Monday sparking speculation over the future of one of the most high-profile figures in sports.
"This chapter is over," Ronaldo told his 115 million followers on X, above a picture of him in an Al-Nassr jersey. "The story? Still being written. Grateful to all."
The five-time world player of the year joined Al-Nassr in late 2022 and his contract will expire at the end of June.
On Saturday, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Ronaldo could play at the new-look, expanded Club World Cup starting on June 14 because of a unique transfer window created for the tournament.
"There are discussions with some clubs," Infantino told online streamer IShowSpeed, whose YouTube channel has more than 39 million subscribers. "So if any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup, who knows. Still a few weeks time, will be fun."
Al-Nassr, which finished in third place in the Saudi league this season, did not qualify for the Club World Cup — where Lionel Messi, Ronaldo's great rival, will be playing with Inter Miami.
Ronaldo did not react on Saturday to Infantino's speculation on his social media channels.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Nahar Net
7 hours ago
- Nahar Net
Real Madrid pays fee to get Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool in time for Club World Cup
by Naharnet Newsdesk 30 May 2025, 16:38 Real Madrid's decision to pry defender Trent Alexander-Arnold out of his Liverpool contract one month before it expires could pay dividends at the Club World Cup. The Spanish club will pay Liverpool a reported fee of up to 10 million euros ($11 million) to get the England right back on June 1 — rather than for free at the end of the month. That means the 26-year-old Alexander-Arnold — who has agreed on a six-year contract through June 2031 — will be able to play for Xabi Alonso's team at the Club World Cup in the United States starting in mid-June, Madrid announced Friday. The prize for the Club World Cup champion? Up to $125 million. "Welcome @trentarnold66!" fellow England international Jude Bellingham wrote on Instagram about his new Madrid teammate, accompanied by a photo of the pair. Madrid opens its Club World Cup group stage against Saudi club Al-Hilal on June 18 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Alexander-Arnold had been criticized by some Liverpool fans for having let his contract run down — meaning he could leave as a free agent. But since Alexander-Arnold was still under contract with the Premier League champions until the end of June, Liverpool was able to extract a fee for letting him go early. Special windows Madrid and the other 31 teams playing in the Club World Cup can make early signings under FIFA-approved special trading windows from June 1-10 and again June 27-July 3. Liverpool, which did not qualify for the Club World Cup, confirmed it accepted Madrid's offer for Alexander-Arnold and that it "will receive a fee for his services, with the deal to be concluded once the window opens on June 1." Neither club specified the amount. Alexander-Arnold had announced earlier this month that he'd be leaving his boyhood club — with Madrid the expected destination. By its own high standards, Madrid had a disappointing season, finishing runner-up to rival Barcelona despite having signed France star Kylian Mbappe last summer. Madrid hopes that Alexander-Arnold will reinforce a defense that was hammered by injuries this season as the team failed to win a title. The team's announcement noted that he "can also play in midfield." Coaching change Alexander-Arnold will join Bellingham on a team that is undergoing a coaching change with Alonso taking over from Carlo Ancelotti. At Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold helped the club win two Premier League titles, a Champions League title and two FA Cup trophies, among other silverware. "Alexander-Arnold leaves Liverpool FC with the club appreciative and grateful for his contribution to those successes," the Merseyside club said in a statement. He made 354 appearances for Liverpool and scored 23 goals — but his key attribute is as a provider from the right side, perhaps most famously in the Champions League semifinals in 2019 when his quickly taken corner set up Divock Origi's strike to complete a memorable comeback against Barcelona at Anfield.


Nahar Net
a day ago
- Nahar Net
Messi scores twice, assists in Miami's 4-2 win over Montreal
by Naharnet Newsdesk 29 May 2025, 15:59 Lionel Messi scored twice and had an assist, and Inter Miami broke out of its slump with a 4-2 victory over Montreal on Wednesday night. Messi scored in the 27th and 87th minutes and set up Luis Suárez's goal with some nice dribbling in the 68th. Suárez added another in the 71st. The win gave Messi's Inter Miami team just its second victory in its past eight matches. Miami last won on May 3, going 0-2-2 since then and dropping to sixth in the Eastern Conference. It has been a surprising plunge for a team that went 22-4-8 during the regular season in 2024 to set MLS records for points (74) and winning percentage (.765) and captured the Supporters Shield — so puzzling that Messi spoke recently of the group's need to stick together despite the difficulties. His pep talk seemed to work. In its last match, Miami rallied from a two-goal deficit to tie Philadelphia, which leads MLS with 10 wins this season. And that momentum carried over against Montreal, which is last in the Eastern Conference with only one win. "We know in what situation we are (in)," said Miami coach Javier Mascherano. "Sometimes you have to analyze not just the result, you have to analyze the game, how we play. I think in some games we didn't get the result that we wanted. We deserved it a little bit more, but in (soccer), you don't deserve, you have to do." Messi's first goal on Wednesday was set up by Sergio Busquets, who delivered a pass to his former Barcelona teammate and set the screen that freed up Messi for his seventh goal of the MLS season. Messi then linked up with Suárez to give Miami a two-goal cushion midway through the second half, and iced the win on a pass from Suárez just before the end of regulation. It was a much-needed goal for Suárez, who finished last season tied for the second-most goals in MLS with 20, but had just two entering Wednesday's match. It was also the offensive performance Miami needed before it begins Club World Cup play. The Herons have another MLS match at home on Saturday against Columbus before their first contest of the tournament against Al Ahly of Egypt on June 14. Miami could be without three defenders on Saturday, including veteran left back Jordi Alba, who went down with a lower-body injury in the first half. Mascherano said the team would need to gather more information to find out the extent of the injury. Gonzalo Luján and Toto Aviles also left with lower-body injuries. Miami allowed two late Montreal goals by Dante Sealy and Victor Loturi, both lapses that Mascherano was not happy about. "That is something that is unacceptable," he said, "that we have to improve."


Nahar Net
a day ago
- Nahar Net
Bayern Munich signs defender Jonathan Tah from Bundesliga rival Leverkusen
by Naharnet Newsdesk 29 May 2025, 15:57 Bayern Munich strengthened its defense ahead of the Club World Cup by signing Germany center back Jonathan Tah from its Bundesliga rival Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday. Munich said Tah arrives on a free transfer with a contract until June 2029. "It's a very special feeling," Tah said. "It felt very big, seeing the shirt with my number and name on it. I'm just really looking forward to being able to wear the shirt properly for the first time in a match. I want to take on responsibility here and work hard every day so that we're successful as a team and win lots of trophies together." For now, it was doubtful Tah would be with Bayern for its opening Club World Cup games next month. Bayern's statement didn't specify when he would join the team. Leverkusen would be entitled to a fee to release Tah before his current contract expires at the end of June. Leverkusen hadn't immediately commented on Tah leaving the club. Bayern pursued Tah for more than a year after failing to sign him last summer, when Tah refused to extend his contract beyond the 2024-25 season. "It's no secret that we've had Jonathan Tah on our radar for a long time," Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl said. "Jonathan had a lot of offers but chose Bayern, which pleases us very much." He was Leverkusen's longest-serving outfield player after spending a decade at the club and was a key part of the team which won the Bundesliga and German Cup unbeaten in 2023-24. How Leverkusen replaces Tah is a key question in the rebuild the club must pursue with new coach Erik ten Hag after Xabi Alonso left for Real Madrid. Club World Cup complications Bayern was expected for months to sign Tah as a free agent but the Club World Cup complicates matters. The German champion has three group games before Tah's Leverkusen contract was due to expire June 30, starting with Auckland City in Cincinnati on June 15. That meant Leverkusen had the right to demand a fee if Bayern wanted to sign Tah earlier, in the extra transfer window running June 1-10. Getting Tah sooner is important for Bayern because its first-choice central defense pairing has faced a demanding schedule this season and struggled with injuries. Dayot Upamecano has been out since a knee injury in March, while Kim Min-jae played much of the season with an Achilles tendon problem. Backup central defender Eric Dier is leaving for Monaco, while injuries limited Hiroki Ito to a handful of games. "In Jonathan Tah we've acquired a player with international experience and quality, who won't need much time to establish himself in our defense," Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund said. "He'll be a good and important addition for us with his technical qualities as well as his manner and the way he leads." A late developer Tah was an up-and-coming talent when he joined Leverkusen from Hamburger SV in 2015 but it still took years for him to establish himself as one of Germany's best. After making his international debut at the age of 20 in a friendly against England in 2016, Tah had to wait until Julian Nagelsmann's arrival as coach in 2023 to become a regular starter for his country. Germany's run to the quarterfinals of Euro 2024 on home soil was Tah's first major tournament. Of his 35 international appearances, 19 have come in the last two seasons.