Cristiano Ronaldo planning on Al Nassr stay: ‘Nothing is going to change'
Cristiano Ronaldo has said he is planning to be at Al Nassr next season amid ongoing speculation over his future.
Ronaldo's deal with the Saudi Pro League (SPL) club expires on June 30 with The Athletic reporting last month that negotiations had taken place over a new contract for the 40-year-old.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino added fuel to the fire in May by claiming Ronaldo 'might play' for a team at the Club World Cup and that there were 'discussions' over the prospect. Al Nassr have not qualified for the newly-expanded tournament in the United States, which begins later this week.
Advertisement
Ronaldo played that prospect down ahead of Sunday's Nations League final and, speaking after helping Portugal to victory over Spain, he appeared to commit to the SPL club.
Asked about his future, Ronaldo said 'practically nothing is going to change' and when prompted with Al Nassr, he replied, 'Yes'.
The latest comments follow those he made in a pre-final news conference on Saturday, when he said that he will almost certainly not leave to play in the Club World Cup despite receiving offers to do so.
'You can't go to everything,' Ronaldo added. 'I've pretty much made up my mind not to go to the Club World Cup.'
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been with Al Nassr since December 2022, after leaving Manchester United, and won the SPL Golden Boot this past season with 25 goals.
Ronaldo collected his third trophy with Portugal on Sunday after scoring their second goal in the 61st minute — his 138th for his country — to send the game to extra time and then penalties which they won 5-3.
()
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
How to watch Liechtenstein vs Scotland FOR FREE: TV channel and live stream for friendly today
Scotland will be expected to return to winning ways when they face Liechtenstein in an international friendly this evening. Steve Clarke's side have lost their last two games - against Greece to suffered relegation to League B in the Nations League and then at home to Iceland in a friendly on Friday. Advertisement Prior to that, the Tartan Army had put together a four-game unbeaten run which included wins over Poland and Croatia as well as a goalless draw against Portugal. Those results suggest this is just a blip for Scotland and they should avoid a third straight loss against a Liechtenstein side ranked 205th in the world and were beaten 3-0 by Wales last time out, thus continuing their winless start to World Cup qualification. Anything other than an away win will be a surprise in Vaduz and here's everything you need to know about where to watch the game... How to watch Liechtenstein vs Scotland TV channel: The game will be broadcast live in the UK for free on the BBC. Coverage starts at 4.30pm BST on BBC One Scotland ahead of a 5pm kick-off. Live stream: Fans can also tune into the contest via the BBC Sport app, website and BBC iPlayer.
CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
Packers will release veteran cornerback Jaire Alexander, AP source says
The Green Bay Packers are planning to release veteran cornerback Jaire Alexander, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Monday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Packers haven't announced the move yet. NFL Network first reported it. The release would end a seven-year run with the Packers in which Alexander earned two Pro Bowl selections and intercepted 12 passes, though injuries limited his playing time in recent seasons. This move, which is expected to clear about $17 million in cap space, comes as the Packers prepare to open their mandatory minicamp this week. Alexander's future with the Packers had been the subject of much speculation throughout the offseason because of his hefty contract and recent injury history. Alexander had two years remaining on the four-year, $84 million contract extension he signed in May 2022. The 28-year-old Alexander has spent his entire career with the Packers, who selected him out of Louisville with the 18th overall pick in the 2018 draft. Alexander made Pro Bowls in 2020 and 2022, but he has played in only 34 of the Packers' 68 regular-season games over the last four years. Alexander missed two early-season games last year with injuries to his quadriceps and groin. He then missed a Nov. 3 loss to Detroit with a knee injury, returned to play 10 snaps in the Packers' next game against Chicago and then was out for the rest of the season. His unavailability for much of the last few seasons has the Packers believing they can move forward without the player who had remained their best cornerback when healthy. Green Bay's cornerback room also has lost 2021 first-round pick Eric Stokes, who had his own injury issues with the Packers before signing with the Las Vegas Raiders in March. The Packers return Keisean Nixon, a two-time All-Pro kickoff returner who has become more of a factor on defense the last couple of seasons while Alexander has struggled with injuries. Carrington Valentine, a 2023 seventh-round pick, has started 19 games over the last two seasons. The Packers also added former Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs in free agency and drafted Micah Robinson out of Tulane in the seventh round. Alexander was so effective early in his career that the Packers signed him to that big contract with a $30 million signing bonus even after a shoulder injury had limited him to four regular-season games in 2021. Alexander had returned for the Packers' NFC divisional playoff loss to San Francisco during that 2021 season. But the injuries kept coming. He started 16 games and had a career-high five interceptions in 2022 but played just seven regular-season games each of the last two years. Alexander has remained very effective in pass coverage when available. The games he missed were because of injury with one exception. Alexander got suspended for a late-season game in 2023 because of conduct detrimental to the team after he appointed himself captain and participated in the coin toss for a Christmas Eve win at Carolina, his hometown. Before his injuries, Alexander tried to stoke the flames of a rivalry with Minnesota Vikings superstar Justin Jefferson. When Jefferson had 184 yards and two touchdowns against the Packers in Kevin O'Connell's first game as head coach, Alexander called the wide receiver's performance a fluke. In a later game, Alexander did the griddy — Jefferson's signature dance — after an incomplete pass. Jefferson fired some shots of his own, saying "nobody is really worried" about Alexander, noting that the Packers often gave Alexander safety help over the top to cover him.
CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
Patriots' identity clear as team kicks off mandatory minicamp Monday
The Patriots kick off mandatory minicamp on Monday, the final time they'll take the field before training camp next month. But the team has already called an audible with its offseason scheduling. Minicamp was supposed to be three days of practice, but head coach Mike Vrabel has already trimmed it down to two. Players will practice around 12:30 p.m. on the grass fields behind Gillette Stadium on Monday and Tuesday, with each session running about two hours. Players will be back at the team facilities at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday, but there will be no practice that day, the team announced Monday. It will likely be a morning filled with team meetings, and then potentially a fun activity if players accomplish everything the coaching staff wants over the first two days of practice. It's not uncommon for teams to axe the third and final day of minicamp practice for a team-building activity. Vrabel must be happy enough with what the team has done throughout OTAs that three days of practice won't be needed this week. We might find out if there is something fun on the docket Wednesday when Vrabel chats with reporters around 12:15 p.m. on Monday. Until then, the Patriots will be hard at work in their first mandatory practices of the offseason. Patriots identity heading into mandatory minicamp Vrabel has been making his mark on the Patriots since he was named head coach in January, and while reporters have only been able to see three practices, the team's identity is apparent early. During Sunday night's Sports Final on WBZ-TV, ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss threw out a few buzz words surrounding the Patriots in Year 1 of the Vrabel era. "We've seen three practices, we've seen the rookies, and I think the identity of the team is clear. When you watch them practice and listen to them talk, the Patriots are going to be about effort and finish," Reiss told WBZ-TV's Steve Burton. "When you watch them practice, they're running through the end zone. They're not cutting off, they're running around the cone. "Effort and finish are two buzz words, and then I'd say ball security and ball disruption," continued Reiss. "They want to get the ball out and they want to take care of the ball. Details, fundamentals -- they're trying to drill down on the fine points so they have a smarter football team." Drake Maye's leadership growing Drake Maye is entering Year 2 of his NFL career, and Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels have been putting a lot of responsibilities on the quarterback's shoulders. Reiss has seen Maye's role in the offense grow over the summer practices, and notes how last week, Vrabel had the offense line up at the goal line and told Maye to, "Call it out! What do you got?" The coaches let Maye call the play and dictate which cadence he wanted at the line. "It was putting Drake in a position of leadership; 'You better call it out so they can hear you over here, hear it over here.' Everyone's gotta hear it, because if they leave early you're running it again. They want [the offense] to be tight and crisp in the fundamentals," said Reiss. Maye is expected to chat with reporters after Monday's practice. Efton Chism III hype is real The Patriots have a packed group of receivers fighting for roster spots. But Reiss said it's impossible not to notice undrafted rookie free agent Efton Chism III make catch after catch after catch. Reiss said the hype for the Eastern Washington product is real, and believes he'll have a roster spot by summer's end. "You have to hose me down a bit because I get excited watching him," said Reiss. "When I watch him run routes, he's shifty and has this spatial awareness. ... This guy has a real chance if this happens when the pads comes on. If you're telling me right now to make out a roster, he's my sixth receiver."
