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Where is Cristiano Ronaldo going next as tension grows with agent Jorge Mendes?

The Portugal star and his agent have big decisions to make after the player’s exit of the World Cup, with a new club to be announced.

The Portugal star and his agent have big decisions to make after the player’s exit of the World Cup, with a new club to be announced.

The World Cup is over for Portugal, and many of the biggest domestic leagues get back underway next week. But one of the biggest names in the game, Cristiano Ronaldo, is without a team.

His sad goodbye to Qatar took place a few days ago and, as yet, there is still no confirmed news about where he will play from now on. As of January 1st, he can sign for any other club having terminated his contract with Manchester United, but with a couple of weeks to go, absolutely nothing concrete is known about his future.

In fact, this uncertainty has eroded the relationship between Cristiano and his high-profile agent, Jorge Mendes. In recent days the tension has rocketed, and not for the first time there have been strains. They feel for each other almost like a father and a son, and for this reason the relationship has experienced ups and downs. A similar episode happened before, for example when Ronaldo left Juventus, and then they redressed the situation.

Cristiano Ronaldo leaves in tears, after being eliminated from the World Cup by Morocco.
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Cristiano Ronaldo leaves in tears, after being eliminated from the World Cup by Morocco.Alexander HassensteinGetty

The star from Madeira is about to turn 38 and finding a place for him in the current market is not going to be easy. His financial demands don’t help if there is a desire to remain in the European hub. Mendes is working on offering an interesting alternative.

While this is happening, the rift has definitely opened up with the appearance of different actors in the Middle East who would be willing to make a move to give Cristiano what he demands. The offer that has grabbed most headlines is that of Al Nassr, a club from Saudi Arabia, whose dizzying figures have come to light (200 million for the player) and even led Cristiano to respond to the rumour. “There is nothing in it,” he said.

Another important name may be that of Antero Henrique. The current head of the QSL (Qatar Stars League), formerly of PSG and a key player in the renewal of Kylian Mbappé in Paris, then as an advisor, has in his power an option for Cristiano to continue his career in Qatar.

These operations, though, come from outside of Mendes’ circles and suggest that the ears of CR7 are no longer only listening to his long-time agent. His future is up in the air and their relationship is going through a rocky spell.