Cristiano Ronaldo has made it clear that he would “never” have joined Arsenal, despite rumors linking him to the London club in the past. The revelation comes from his former Manchester United teammate Patrice Evra. Who shared insights into Ronaldo’s thoughts on potential transfers during an interview.
Ronaldo had two stints at Manchester United, first making a name for himself under Sir Alex Ferguson after joining from Sporting CP as a teenager. His second spell at United began in 2021, following successful stints at Real Madrid and Juventus.
In 2018, when Ronaldo left Real Madrid for Juventus, multiple clubs reportedly showed interest in securing his services. Among them were Arsenal, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). However, according to Evra, a move to Arsenal was never seriously on table for Ronaldo, despite Gunners’ interest at time.
Speaking to RMC Sport (via Goal), Evra revealed: “Has Cristiano ever wanted to come to PSG? Yes. There was Paris, Arsenal… That was before he signed for Juventus in 2018. He had Chelsea, Juventus, and Paris. He said he would never go to Arsenal. *He was interested in the [Parisian] project.”
Evra added that Ronaldo would have adapted to any challenge but emphasized his loyalty to the projects he believed in, referencing his successful move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr. “You can criticize Cristiano, but he would have adapted. He would have made an effort. Look at what he is doing in Saudi Arabia. He is a Saudi!” Evra said.
At the time of Ronaldo’s departure from Madrid, Arsenal was entering a new era under manager Unai Emery. The Gunners, however, chose not to pursue a striker that summer and instead focused their spending on players like Bernd Leno and Lucas Torreira, while Ronaldo moved to Juventus, where he went on to enjoy more success.
While PSG didn’t sign Ronaldo in 2018, the club later brought in his long-time rival, Lionel Messi, in 2021. Messi played two seasons at the French club, securing two Ligue 1 titles before his move to Inter Miami.
Ronaldo’s second stint at Manchester United ended dramatically during the 2022-23 season, following an explosive interview in which he criticized the club. He mutually terminated his contract and moved to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Since joining the Pro League, Ronaldo has been in prolific form, scoring 44 goals in all competitions last season, including 35 in the league.
This season, Ronaldo continues to impress, netting 16 goals in total, with 10 coming in league play. However, his team, Al-Nassr, currently sits fourth in the league standings after 13 games. They face a challenging return to action on January 9, hosting Al-Okhdood, who are just outside the relegation zone.
Ronaldo’s admission regarding Arsenal, combined with his continued success in Saudi Arabia, highlights his unwavering confidence in his career decisions, as well as his loyalty to the teams that align with his ambitions.
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