Cristiano Ronaldo has invited four of his former Manchester United teammates to meet up for a get-together in Portugal or Saudi Arabia, according to reports.
The 37-year-old’s contract with United was terminated in November following his interview with Piers Morgan in which he slammed the club and manager Erik ten Hag.
Ronaldo ended up signing a £175 million-a-year deal with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, while he was unable to say goodbye to his ex-United teammates as his departure was arranged during the World Cup.
According to The Sun, Ronaldo has now reached out to four of his former United teammates – Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire – to arrange a meet-up this summer.
Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr but was not given a chance to say goodbye to his ex-Manchester United teammates (Getty)
The report claims that Ronaldo has invited his ex-United teammates to his new villa which is being built on the outskirts of Portugal and has floated the possibility of watching him play for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
Cristiano Ronaldo remains close to Bruno Fernandes following his Manchester United departure (Getty)
A source at United told the newspaper: ‘There are still a few lads here who have nothing but respect for Ronny and were sad how it all ended, because they never got to say a proper goodbye.
‘He recently left the player WhatsApp groups but promised to keep in touch with a few and has invited them to his new place in Lisbon and to Saudi to watch him play.
‘Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Raphael Varane are all mates.’
Meanwhile, Al-Nassr’s manager Rudi Garcia has suggested that Ronaldo will not end his career in Saudi Arabia and will play again for a European club.
‘Cristiano Ronaldo is a positive addition, as he helps to disperse defenders,’ said Garcia.
‘He is one of the best players in the world. He will not finish his career at Al-Nassr, he will return to Europe.’
Piers Morgan provides Cristiano Ronaldo Saudi Arabia update
Morgan and Ronaldo are the best of friends, apparently.
Piers Morgan has provided an update on Cristiano Ronaldo’s start to life in Saudi Arabia, both on and off the pitch.
Ronaldo made the move to the Middle East to join Al Nassr shortly after conducting an explosive interview with Morgan, in which he criticised the state of affairs at Manchester United.
The duo have formed an unlikely friendship in recent years and the Talk TV host revealed that the 37-year-old has texted him to let him know how he has settled into his new surroundings in Riyadh.
“Is he happy? Definitely,” Morgan told Tatler.
“I’ve swapped a few texts with him, and he’s absolutely loving it, on and off the pitch.”
Ronaldo is yet to score in any of his opening two appearances and was recently knocked out of the Saudi Super Cup after Al Nassr were beaten 3-1 by Al Ittihad in the semi-finals.
Morgan has been a strong defender of Ronaldo’s decision to move to Saudi Arabia, claiming that his new venture outside of Europe actually gives him the edge over his long-standing rival, Lionel Messi.
“Thanks to the fall-out from our interview, Ronaldo signed the biggest transfer deal in football history, and is now the world’s highest-paid athlete, at the age of 37,” he added.
“He’s also doing what he’s done throughout his career, and which for me gives him the edge over Messi, and that is challenge himself in a new country, and new league, at a time when football in the Middle East is really taking off, as we saw at the Qatar World Cup where Morocco reached the semi-finals and Saudi Arabia beat the eventual winners, Messi’s Argentina.
“Ideally, I think he’d have preferred to play for another top club in the Champions League for a year or two, but Al Nassr made him a staggering offer, and I think the fresh challenge of raising the profile of football in a new region of the world, at the twilight of his incredible career, really appealed to him.”
Source: metro.co.uk; sportsjoe.ie
