Cristiano Ronaldo wants Manchester United team-mate to join him in Saudi Arabia - but there's a problem: report

Marcus Rashford of Manchester United celebrates with Cristiano Ronaldo, Luke Shaw, Anthony Elanga and Diogo Dalot after scoring their team's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford on October 30, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo is working hard to convince a former Manchester United team-mate to join him in Saudi Arabia at Al-Nassr, despite his acrimonious exit from Old Trafford last year.

Since Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Al-Nassr at the start of 2023, a number of high-profile stars have all joined him at the Saudi side, with Sadio Mane, Aymeric Laporte, Marcelo Brozovic and Alex Telles now all at last season's Saudi Pro League runners-up. 

The Portuguese forward isn't content with stopping there, however. With a number of free agents still available in Europe, Ronaldo is attempting to convince one former Manchester United stalwart to try his hand in the Middle East. 

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring for Al-Nassr against Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League in September 2023.

Ronaldo has been enjoying life in Saudi Arabia (Image credit: Getty Images)

According to 90min, Ronaldo is playing an active role in Al-Nassr's pursuit of David De Gea, who is still without a club after leaving Old Trafford in the summer.

After agreeing a new deal with Manchester United, the club then retracted the contract offer, leaving De Gea free to depart the Red Devils and end his 12 years at the Premier League side. 

Bayern Munich and Real Madrid both reportedly negotiated a potential deal for the 32-year-old in the summer transfer window, but an agreement couldn't be struck and he still remains without a club. 

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea looks dejected during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United at London Stadium on May 7, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.

De Gea has been without a club since leaving Man United upon the expiry of his contract (Image credit: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

While Cristiano Ronaldo remains persistent in attempting to convince De Gea to reunite with him at Al-Nassr, though, the report suggests that the Spaniard and his wife would prefer to stay in his home country and find a club in La Liga. Spanish outlet Fichajes has linked him with both Real Betis and Valencia in recent weeks.

Ronaldo is currently enjoying a strong start to the 2023/24 Saudi Pro League season, scoring 10 goals in seven games as Al-Nassr sit fourth in the table, though only two points off of first place. 

More Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United stories

Ronaldo has hit back at his critics who suggest he is slowing down.

Former Manchester United coach Mike Phelan claims that players refused to match the "massively high standards" set by Cristiano Ronaldo during his season-and-a-half at the club. 

Ryan Dabbs
Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.