Odion Ighalo ‘hopes’ Cristiano Ronaldo joins him in the Saudi Arabian Professional League but expects the former Manchester United striker to stay in Europe and move to a Champions League club.
Ronaldo, who is currently in Qatar with Portugal’s World Cup squad, is searching for a new club after being released by Man United last month.
United decided to terminate Ronaldo’s contract after he gave a controversial interview to Piers Morgan in which he slammed the Premier League club and said he had ‘no respect’ for manager Erik ten Hag.
During the bombshell interview, Ronaldo also claimed he turned down a £305m deal to join a Saudi Arabian team last summer.
Those links have re-emerged since Ronaldo became a free agent, with reports claiming Al-Nassr have offered him £150m a season to join them on a three-year deal.
Nigerian striker Ighalo plays for Al Hilal and wants Ronaldo to join him in Saudi Arabia, although he admits he will likely remain in Europe and join a Champions League club.
‘Cristiano Ronaldo is hugely ambitious, and I think he will want to play in a Champions League team and end his career well, but you never can say,’ Ighalo told The Athletic.
‘He has the decision to make. I wish him all the best in that decision, and hopefully, he does come to Saudi Arabia.
‘I would love for him to come to Saudi because he would boost the league and add more fanbase to the league. People who aren’t already watching will start to engage with the league and see something they are missing.’
Ighalo scored five goals in 23 appearances for Manchester United after making a shock move to Old Trafford in 2019.
Even if Ronaldo wants to stay in Europe, the decision could be taken out of his hands as few clubs can stomach his huge salary.
Last week, German giants Bayern Munich ruled out a move for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
‘We have already dealt with this,’ Bayern’s CEO Oliver Kahn told Sky Sport Germany. ‘We have a clear idea, a clear philosophy of how our squad should be put together.
‘We all appreciate him, there’s no discussion. We all love Cristiano Ronaldo, but that’s something that doesn’t fit into our idea.’
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