Did Cristiano Ronaldo almost join Atletico Madrid in 2022? Club president reveals the truth
Cristiano Ronaldo to Atletico Madrid was a thing of discussion back in 2022, but how much of it was true?
Ronaldo was never close to joining Atletico in 2022, despite widespread reports linking the former Real Madrid star with a move across the Spanish capital. Atletico president Enrique Cerezo has now addressed the long-running transfer rumours.
Ronaldo was looking for a new challenge after becoming unsettled at Manchester United, with his agent Jorge Mendes exploring potential destinations for the Portuguese forward.
Atletico were among the clubs repeatedly mentioned at the time, but Cerezo insists the Madrid side were never a realistic option.
Ronaldo also shares a crazy history with Atletico, given the fact he beat them twice in the UCL final with Real.
Atletico Madrid president shuts down Cristiano Ronaldo transfer rumours
Speaking on the Kuwaiti programme Super, Cerezo was asked about Atletico’s reported interest in Ronaldo.
‘The truth is that Cristiano Ronaldo could not have played with us,’ the Atletico president said.
Ronaldo had already left Real Madrid several years earlier, joining Juventus in 2018. He spent three seasons in Turin, winning two Serie A titles and the Coppa Italia before returning to Manchester United in 2021.
Cerezo suggested the simplest route for Ronaldo would have been to remain where he was living at the time.
‘Ronaldo left Real Madrid because he wanted to keep playing,’ he added.
The Atletico president also referenced Ronaldo’s eventual move to Saudi Arabia, saying: ‘The easiest option for him was to stay in the city he was living in, but in the end he went to Saudi
Arabia, and that is where he plays now.’
Interestingly, Cerezo did not mention Ronaldo’s second spell at Manchester United, which ended with the striker joining Al-Nassr in December 2022. He left United after mutually terminating the contract.
Moreover, Ronaldo himself had already dismissed the Atletico speculation that summer.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner responded to an Instagram report suggesting he could move to the Madrid club, writing: ‘It’s impossible that they don’t talk about me one day. Otherwise the press wouldn’t earn money.’
He also accused reports of containing false information and suggested the media would eventually get one story right.
Diego Simeone later backed up Ronaldo’s version of events. In October 2022, the Atletico manager denied that the club had been interested in signing the forward.
For Ronaldo, the summer eventually ended without a move to Atletico or another European club.
His second Manchester United spell continued before his departure later that year, setting up the next chapter of his career in Saudi Arabia.
Ronaldo has now returned to Al-Nassr after his wedding recently.
He enters his 25th season of professional football. The 41-year-old is just 24 goals away from reaching the 1000 goal milestone and would like to add this record to his bag.
Al-Nassr start their 26/27 season against Al Fateh this Saturday.
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