The 37-year-old is currently a free agent following his acrimonious departure from Manchester United last month.
Ronaldo’s contract was terminated after his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, during which he accused his now former manager, Erik ten Hag, of lacking respect, while he also took aim at the Glazer family for presiding over a period of steady decline since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
The Portugal international had hoped to use the ongoing World Cup as something of a shop window and believed a positive showing in Qatar would convince a club with Champions League aspirations that he was worthy of a move to a European giant.
But, while Fernando Santos’s side reached the quarter-finals last night following an emphatic 6-1 win over Switzerland, it was another night to forget for Ronaldo who saw his replacement Goncalo Ramos score a hat-trick.
Ronaldo was brought on as a substitute with 15 minutes remaining and had a goal ruled out for offside, before storming down the tunnel and refusing to join his teammates in their post-match celebrations.
The sulky striker did, at least, stop for reporters in the mixed zone and offered a brief response to reports that claim he has already verbally agreed to sign a deal worth a staggering £432million.
‘No, that’s not true — not true,’ he said.
That response tallies with Morgan’s information with Ronaldo’s public mouthpiece revealing last week that the striker would prefer to remain in Europe.
He said: ‘He thinks that if he does well at this World Cup, he’ll get what he really wants, which is a club in the Champions League that extends his record and his legacy,’ Morgan told the Daily Telegraph.
‘It’s not about money at this stage of his career.
‘It comes down to a burning desire to play football at the highest level, to break records and win trophies. And he has done that in more countries than any other player in history.’
MORE : World Cup hat-trick hero Goncalo Ramos reacts after taking Cristiano Ronaldo’s place in Portugal team
MORE : Portugal manager reveals real reason why Cristiano Ronaldo was dropped for World Cup clash
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Share your story or advertise with us: Whatsapp: +2347068606071 Email: info@newspotng.com
