Where is Ronaldo headed? Speculation swirls around the superstar’s next move

Dubai: Where exactly Cristiano Ronaldo will play next season is fast becoming the biggest mystery in football. The 40-year-old Portuguese icon’s contract with Saudi club Al Nassr is set to expire this summer — and with no official word on an extension, the rumour mill has kicked into overdrive.

Spanish outlet Marca sent social media into a frenzy after claiming that an unnamed Brazilian club had made a “significant” and “tempting” approach for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner — a short-term deal aimed at securing his services for next month’s Fifa Club World Cup.

The list of candidates isn’t long. Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense and Botafogo are the four Brazilian teams taking part in the expanded 32-team tournament, which kicks off in the United States next month. Botafogo boss Renato Paiva has been asked about the links — and notably, didn’t deny them.

If it turns out to be Palmeiras, the world could witness a blockbuster Ronaldo vs Messi reunion, with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami placed in the same group as the Brazilian giants, along with Porto and Al Ahly.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s situation at Al Nassr remains clouded in uncertainty. Sources told TEAMtalk that while a verbal agreement was in place to extend his deal until 2026 — a staggering €200m season aligning with his aim to play at the next World Cup — that pact has now stalled.

The Saudi club’s shock elimination from the Asian Champions League at the hands of Kawasaki Frontale has reportedly unsettled Ronaldo, who is now demanding firm assurances about the team’s ambition going forward. With what could be his final season ahead, the forward isn’t willing to settle for anything less than a squad capable of contending on all fronts.

The situation has left fans and pundits alike on edge. Is Ronaldo gearing up for one last dance on a new stage?

One rumour that caught fire suggested a sensational switch to Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca. But just as that theory began to gain traction, it was shot down.

“It was just a friendly talk between Wydad’s president and an agent close to Ronaldo, without going beyond informal discussions,” a source told Reuters, firmly denying any formal negotiations had taken place.

So where will Cristiano Ronaldo play next season? Brazil? The USA? Riyadh, still? One thing’s certain — the world is watching, and the final chapter is yet to be written.