Cristiano Ronaldo’s mother Dolores Aveiro has confirmed the player’s plans to leave Manchester United and discussed his retirement.
Ronaldo pledged this month that his “journey is not over” at the top level. The forward wanted to leave the club this summer after just one season back at United after his high-profile return from Juventus last year, but this ambition was not realised as he remained at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo was left “upset” at seeing his pay slashed at United after each member of the squad was hit with a 25 per cent cut to their weekly wage due to their failure to qualify for the Champions League.
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Yet the Portuguese star was unable to secure an exit, with no club willing to meet his wage demands and also guarantee him regular football.
Speaking to Nova Genta, Dolores has confirmed that there are plans to return to Sporting CP – the first club of his senior career and where he developed before joining the Red devils for the first time in 2003.
Ronaldo’s mother explained: “It (a return to Sporting) can happen, but not right now. This was not the year for it, but next year it might be. This year or next year this will happen, God willing! I have already explained to him: ‘Son, before I die I want to see him in the Sporting shirt once again’.
“If Ronaldo doesn’t come, his son, Cristianinho, will come. That is his destiny. At his age, he is playing better than his father! Cristiano’s successor is Cristianinho. He has already said he wanted to live in Lisbon and play for Sporting, if they both went – it would be my dream.
“If the wishes of a mother and grandmother are fulfilled, then one of her children will be joining Sporting very soon.”
When pushed on Cristiano’s plans for retirement, his mother added: “He has a strong desire to continue and to keep playing until he is 40.” That would take the striker up to the end of the 2024/25 campaign, which would signal 23 seasons at the top level of football.
Ronaldo said this month at the Quinas de Ouro awards when discussing his future: “I hope to continue being part of the Portuguese international setup for a few more years. I feel motivated, my ambition is high. I am in a team with young people, I want to be in the World Cup but also in the next European Championships.”
The Portuguese superstar added: “I am proud to receive an award of such magnitude. I never thought I could achieve it. It has been a long road but I would like to say that my journey is not over yet. There is still a little more of Cristiano left.”
