Former Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo was the subject of reported interest from other Premier League clubs long before returning to Old Trafford in 2021
Cristiano Ronaldo said he would “never” join Arsenal despite links to the London club, former team-mate Patrice Evra has claimed.
Portugal star Ronaldo had two separate spells in the Premier League with Manchester United. He starred under Sir Alex Ferguson after joining from Sporting CP as a youngster, and returned in 2021 after spells with Real Madrid and Juventus.
The forward’s move from Madrid to Juventus in 2018 came at a time when there was interest from elsewhere. He had just become a Champions League winner for the fourth time in five years, after Los Blancos beat Liverpool in the final in Kyiv.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are understood to have explored the possibility of a move. However, while Evra says his former team-mate seriously considered a move to the French capital, Arsenal was never a realistic possibility.
“Has Cristiano ever wanted to come to PSG? Yes,” Evra told RMC Sport (via Goal). “There was Paris, Arsenal… That was before he signed for Juventus (in 2018).
“He had Chelsea, Juventus, Paris. He said he would never go to Arsenal. He was interested in the (Parisian) project.
“You can criticize Cristiano, but he would have adapted. He would have made an effort. Look at what he is doing in Saudi Arabia. He is a Saudi!”
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While Ronaldo moved to Turin in the summer of 2018, Arsenal were embarking on their first transfer window with Unai Emery as manager. The Gunners opted against signing a striker in that window, though they spent more than £70m to add the likes of Bernd Leno and Lucas Torreira to their ranks.
Paris Saint-Germain might not have snapped up Ronaldo in 2018, but they did add the forward’s long-time rival, Lionel Messi, three years later. The Argentine spent two seasons with the club before moving to Inter Miami, winning a pair of Ligue 1 titles.
Ronaldo’s second United spell ended midway through the 2022-23 season on dramatic fashion. His contract was torn up by mutual agreement following an interview in which he criticised the club, and he proceeded to join Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
He scored 44 times in all competitions last season, including 35 in the league as Al-Nassr ended up some 14 points adrift of runaway league champions Al-Hilal. Ronaldo has also been among the goals this term, bagging 10 in the league and 16 in all competitions, though his team sits fourth in the league table after 13 games.
Al-Nassr lost two of their last three games before the winter break, falling to a 2-1 loss at home to Al-Qadsiah and losing by the same scoreline away to league leaders Al-Ittihad. They will return to league action on January 9 at home to Al-Okhdood, who currently sit just outside the relegation places.
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