7M - Could Cristiano Ronaldo Return to Manchester United for a Third Spell? Former Teammate Shares Transfer View Following "Surprise" Al-Nassr Standoff

A former teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo has offered his opinion on the possibility of the Portuguese star making a third return to Manchester United. The 40-year-old is reported to be dissatisfied at Al-Nassr, feeling the club's owners—the Public Investment Fund (PIF)—have prioritized their three other teams over his own. With Ronaldo aiming to reach 1,000 career goals before retiring, he could pursue a new move in the coming months.

Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in 2023 after his Manchester United contract was terminated, becoming the highest-profile signing in the Saudi Pro League at that time. While he has maintained an impressive scoring record in the Middle East, his only trophy with the club so far remains the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup.

This season, Al-Nassr are close behind league leaders Al-Hilal—trailing by just one point after 19 matches—in the Pro League title race. However, Ronaldo is said to have been disappointed recently after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund supported Karim Benzema's transfer from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal. Ronaldo believes this has strengthened a direct title rival, while he and Al-Nassr did not receive similar backing.

Amid growing speculation about Ronaldo’s future, some have even raised the idea of a third stint at Manchester United.

The veteran forward first rose to global stardom during his initial period at Old Trafford, winning multiple honors including the Premier League and the Champions League, and claiming his first Ballon d’Or. He further cemented his legendary status at Real Madrid, becoming the club's all-time top scorer with 450 goals in 438 appearances, before enjoying a three-season spell with Juventus in Italy.

In 2021, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought Ronaldo back to United in pursuit of silverware, and the Portuguese responded with 24 goals in 38 games across all competitions. After Solskjaer’s dismissal, however, Ronaldo clashed with successor Erik ten Hag, leading to an abrupt exit and his move to Al-Nassr.

Former United defender Wes Brown recently weighed in on the prospect of Ronaldo returning to the club. Speaking to BettingLounge, Brown stated, “He’s not happy, but would Cristiano Ronaldo come back to Manchester United for a third time? I’d say no. I can’t see how that could happen. A move to MLS? Possibly. He might also return to Portugal. I’m sure he’ll have plenty of options.”

Brown added, “What matters most is that he still wants to play in the World Cup, so he’ll need to keep playing and stay fit for that. His recent standoff at Al-Nassr has surprised many, but I believe it will be resolved. We’ll just have to wait and see what comes next.”