The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr raised eyebrows and invited scrutiny, especially after his controversial exit from Manchester United. It appeared that the Saudi club was his only option. However, a recent revelation from Atletico Madrid’s executive director suggests there was interest from the European club in acquiring CR7.

After leaving Manchester United, Al Nassr wasted no time in pursuing Ronaldo, offering him a staggering $500 million contract, to which he eventually agreed. His move to the Saudi club instantly brought global attention to the league. Yet, what many didn’t know was that Atletico Madrid also aspired to secure his services.

In a surprising interview, Atletico Madrid’s executive director openly discussed their desire to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, stating, “We wanted to sign Ronaldo when he was leaving Manchester United.” This revelation is unexpected, considering no European team at the time seemed interested in acquiring the Portuguese forward.

Despite the startling interest, the executive director quickly added, “But now he is playing with Al Nassr and shining, and we do not want to talk about that.” While this revelation is thrilling, it leaves lingering questions.

Did Atletico Madrid prepare a contract to offer Cristiano Ronaldo? Or did they create a proposal only to be outbid by Al Nassr? Unfortunately, only time will reveal the answers. Meanwhile, it’s evident that the 38-year-old is embracing his new venture with Al Nassr, with reports indicating a potential two-year contract extension on the horizon.

Cristiano Ronaldo initially signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Al Nassr, set to end in 2025. However, the 5-time Ballon d’Or winner has expressed intentions to extend his contract by an additional two years. The Saudi side is expected to officially announce his extension soon, keeping the soccer legend with Al Nassr until 2027.