Raphinha had a phenomenal 2024-25 season, but in the summer of 2024, he was one of the players Barcelona were desperate to offload him. The Brazil international has previously stated that he would've considered a departure because he was struggling mentally. In a recent interview, he reiterated that "the offer from Saudi Arabia really tempted me", but conversations with Hansi Flick changed his mind.
Karim Benzema could be set for a surprise return to Europe, with Turkish giants Fenerbahce making the ex-Real Madrid striker their top January target. After a slow start to the season and a lack of goals, the Istanbul club are reportedly ready to test the waters for the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner, who remains under contract with Al-Ittihad until 2026.
Cristiano Ronaldo is being tipped to fill a future role at Manchester United, after taking in two spells at Old Trafford as a player, with Wes Brown claiming that an executive post for the Portuguese superstar would be “perfect”. Evergreen Al-Nassr frontman CR7 is not ready to consider a role behind the scenes just yet, with a new two-year contract being committed to in the Saudi Pro League that will take him beyond his 42nd birthday.
Vinicius Junior is no longer "untouchable" at Real Madrid, according to reports, with Los Blancos prepared to sanction a sale if the right offer arrives. That deal would need to smash all kinds of records, with the Spanish giants demanding €250 million (£217m/$290m) for their Brazil international forward. Few teams can afford to meet that asking price, but big-spending sides in the Saudi Pro League could.
Pepe has backed Cristiano Ronaldo to keep playing for "many more years", insisting the 40-year-old is still capable of breaking records and defying expectations. Speaking about his former Real Madrid and Portugal team-mate, Pepe said he hopes fans won’t have to face the day the five-time Ballon d'Or winner retires anytime soon, highlighting the enduring impact of the football legend.
Cristiano Ronaldo is “the biggest brand in the world”, according to the vice president of his former employers at Sporting, with the Portuguese GOAT becoming a “one-man show”. CR7 has become football’s first billionaire, allowing him to emulate the achievements of legendary figures such as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, LeBron James and Tiger Woods. There is no sign of the evergreen Al-Nassr striker slowing down.
Kylian Mbappe has opened up about the strong relationship he has forged with “role model” Cristiano Ronaldo, saying he regularly receives advice from the Portugal superstar. The France forward has made no secret of his admiration for the Real Madrid legend over the years, having followed in his footsteps by becoming the star attraction at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Harry Maguire is reportedly prepared to reject a staggering £500,000-a-week offer from Saudi Arabia to stay at Manchester United - but only if the club give him the assurances and new contract he's looking for. The England defender, whose deal expires next summer, is said to be open to extending his stay at Old Trafford if United make clear he remains part of their long-term plans.
Ivan Toney could make a sensational return to the Premier League in a last-gasp bid to be included in England manager Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup plans. Toney left Brentford last year to join Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, but has dropped down the Three Lions’ pecking order and could make a dramatic move to force his way back in.
Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed how hair treatments have played a crucial role in maintaining his trademark confidence, insisting he “wouldn’t be the same” without his iconic hair. The Portuguese superstar, now 40, admitted that his appearance and self-esteem are closely linked, as he continues to champion health and wellness through his hair care brand in Saudi Arabia.
The Glazer family have finally hinted they’d consider selling Manchester United but only for a reported mind-blowing £5.2 billion. That’s more than double the club’s current £2 billion market value, and the clearest signal yet that the Florida-based owners will only budge if a global powerhouse comes knocking on their door with a record-breaking cheque.
Bruno Fernandes continues to see a move to the Saudi Pro League speculated on, but the Manchester United captain reportedly has “no interest” in completing such a switch at this stage of his career. That will be music to the ears of those at Old Trafford, with the Portuguese playmaker a talismanic presence for the Red Devils while continuing to fill their armband.
Manchester United are reportedly set to offer Harry Maguire a new £140k-a-week contract amid a surge in interest from Saudi Pro League clubs. Old Trafford chiefs are in advanced talks to keep the 32-year-old centre-back beyond this season, with his current deal set to expire in just eight months. Despite whispers of an Arabian raid, United’s hierarchy has begun formal discussions with Maguire’s representatives about extending his stay.
Kingsley Coman’s sudden exit from Bayern Munich after years of loyalty shocked fans and raised questions inside the club. The French winger has now broken his silence revealing that not everyone in Munich wanted him to stay, despite manager Vincent Kompany’s support. His move to Al-Nassr was the result of a fractured Bayern board and financial strain behind the scenes.
Saudi sports promoter Turki Al-Sheikh, who has helped to bring major boxing events to the Middle East, has sensationally claimed that Manchester United are up for sale once more and are “finalising a deal” that will see the club passed on to new owners. The Red Devils were involved in a protracted takeover saga throughout 2023 that ended when Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS group acquired a 25 per cent stake in the club and took control of football operations at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been backed to keep playing "at least into his mid-40s" by former Premier League rival and England star Joe Cole, who claimed the Portugal legend is "defying medical science". At 40, Ronaldo is still scoring for fun at both club and international level. He has kicked off the 2025-26 campaign on a high, having scored five goals in six matches across all competitions for Al-Nassr.
Joao Felix’s Saudi Arabian adventure has started with fireworks and controversy over his decision. The 25-year-old former Benfica prodigy sparked debate over his career direction when he joined Al-Nassr in July while former team Benfica were chasing him. However, coach Jorge Jesus insists the move was the right call, claiming the Saudi league is “much stronger” than Portugal’s, and says Félix’s link-up with Cristiano Ronaldo can boost Portugal’s World Cup hopes.
Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved another milestone after becoming the first footballer to become a billionaire. The Portugal superstar has added to his lengthy list of accolades after seeing his net worth reach staggering heights on the back of signing the most lucrative contract extension in sporting history with Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr in June.
Mason Greenwood snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo for another former Manchester United team-mate when naming the best player he's worked with and chose Lionel Messi in the GOAT debate. While Greenwood briefly played alongside Ronaldo during the Portuguese striker's ill-fated second stint at Old Trafford, tensions reportedly ran high between the two as they struggled to build a successful playing relationship.
Jordan Henderson says he “struggled” after leaving Liverpool for Saudi Arabia, admitting he might have “made different decisions” in hindsight. The England international has opened up about his controversial decision to leave the Reds to play in a country where same-sex relationships are illegal, having previously been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights.
Kingsley Coman has once again been called up by France boss Didier Deschamps for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches this month after the winger left Bayern Munich in the summer to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr. The 29-year-old has defended the coach's decision to keep him in the squad, claiming he is just as good as he was when called up as an injury replacement in September.
Cristiano Ronaldo says he intends to keep playing for a "few" more years, despite his family’s attempts to convince him to retire. The Portugal and Al-Nassr superstar has revealed his loved ones are pushing for him to hang up his boots following an incredible career which has seen him become of the greatest players of all time, but the striker is adamant he still has the desire to pursue more history in the sport.
Cristiano Ronaldo has risked an Al-Nassr backlash by admitting he would only play for Portugal if he could. Ronaldo is showing no signs of slowing down despite being at the tail-end of his career at the age of 40. But in a candid interview, the iconic forward expressed a deep passion for representing his country above all else.
Ivan Rakitic has revealed the "biggest regret of his career" is the decision to pass up the chance to team up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus. The former Croatian midfielder, who enjoyed successful spells with Sevilla and Barcelona during the era when the Portuguese icon was starring for Real Madrid, says Ronaldo personally called him in 2019 in an attempt to lure him to Italy – an offer he ultimately had to decline.
Inter president Giuseppe Marotta has shared a striking anecdote about Cristiano Ronaldo’s obsessive attention to detail during his brief time at Juventus. The Portuguese superstar, Marotta revealed, would even analyse bottles of water with club doctors to optimise his performance. His relentless focus on health and intelligence sets him apart, explaining why Ronaldo continues to excel at 40 with Al-Nassr.
Piers Morgan, who has always been a loyal Cristiano Ronaldo supporter, has revealed the identity of the one sportsperson that he ranks higher than CR7. That honour goes to Australian cricket legend Shane Warne, with Morgan of the opinion that Ronaldo “would understand” having to play second fiddle to an iconic bowler that liked to make headlines on and off the field.
Georgina Rodriguez is expanding her global presence by taking to YouTube, launching a brand new channel that promises to give an up close look at her glamorous life. It comes just over a year after fiance Cristiano Ronaldo started his own hugely successful and record-breaking channel on the 20-year-old video platform that has revolutionised the way people consume media.
Former Brentford and West Ham United star Said Benrahma faces a court appearance and the threat of jail or a fine over an alleged attack by one of his XL bully dogs. If found guilty, the 30-year-old forward could be handed a custodial sentence. The charges in question relate to Benrahma’s spell in English football, with the alleged incident taking place in July 2023 when the ex-Hammers winger was based in Hornchurch, east London.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire could be set for a sensational switch to Saudi Arabia, with Al-Nassr reportedly lining up a move that would see him reunite with former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo. The England international's deal at Old Trafford expires next summer, and United are not expected to offer fresh terms as they plan for the future.
Saudi Arabian heavyweights Al-Hilal are prepared to offer Harry Kane a mind-boggling package worth £261 million on a three-year deal, according to Bild. The Bayern Munich superstar has been in rip-roaring form in the first two months of the 2025-26 season, breaking records and scoring goals at will. His future has been a constant subject of speculation, with rumours of a Premier League return.
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