PSG president rules out Cristiano Ronaldo signing: “It’s very difficult”

News
By published

Cristiano Ronaldo won't be heading to Paris, according to Nasser Al-Khelaifi

Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal World Cup 2022
(Image credit: Getty Images)

It would be "very difficult" for PSG to sign Cristiano Ronaldo on a free transfer, according to the French club’s owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi. 

Ronaldo’s Manchester United contract was terminated last month in the wake of an interview with Piers Morgan where he criticised the club and manager Erik ten Hag.

PSG have long been linked with the Portugal captain, but Al-Khelaifi has ruled out a move. 

"(With) the three players that we have [Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe], it's very difficult, but I wish him all the best,” Al-Khelaifi told Sky News.

“He's fantastic and he's still an amazing player."

Ronaldo is currently with Portugal at World Cup 2022, where he was on the bench for Tuesday’s 6-1 win over Switzerland in the last 16.

Recent reports said that the 37-year-old received a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassir. 

However, Ronaldo said after the game against the Swiss that speculation a deal is done is “not true”.

Ronaldo was dropped for the last 16 clash after manager Fernando Santos said he “didn’t like” the striker’s reaction to being substituted in the previous game against South Korea. 

Portugal put in a scintillating performance in his absence, smashing their opponents 6-1, with Ronaldo stand-in Goncalo Ramos scoring a hat-trick.

Alasdair Mackenzie

Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.