Ronaldo eyes Real Madrid connection with Hazard and Pepe at Al-Nassr

Suraj Radia

• 6 Jan 2023 18:26 GMT
• 2 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo is already looking to surround himself with more big names at Al-Nassr, with the Saudi side hoping to seal a sensational move for Eden Hazard.

Hazard has been told he has no future at Real Madrid and the Spanish side are looking to cut their losses on the 31-year-old, who has made just 51 La Liga appearances since his €146 million arrival in 2019.

Rudi Garcia managed Hazard at Lille and the Al-Nassr boss is reported by Footmercato to have already contacted the Belgian with a view to signing him in the summer.

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Hazard still has 18 months remaining on his contract at Real and the club are hoping to make some money back on the forward but they may be willing to accept a nominal fee in order to get all of his wages off of the books.

Al-Nassr are currently looking to restructure their side by selling some of their nine foreign players, with domestic clubs only allowed a maximum of eight non-Saudi players on their books.

Vincent Aboubakar is believed to be one of the names being considered for an exit, with the Cameroon striker having been linked with a loan move to Manchester United this month.

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Real Madrid reunion at Al-Nassr?

The arrival of Ronaldo to Al-Nassr has prompted the Saudi side to explore the prospect of signing more high-reputation players in order to improve the country’s standing in Asia ahead of a potential World Cup bid in 2030.

The club have already expressed an interest in signing Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante and Paris Saint-Germain defender Sergio Ramos when their respective contracts expire at the end of the season but it is another of Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammates who could join him in Saudi Arabia.

Ronaldo’s Portuguese compatriot Pepe is believed to be on the list of players the club will try to move for, with the 39-year-old still producing impressive performances for Porto despite his age.

Luka Modric is another player who Al-Nassr will likely make a move for but a deal may have to wait until 2024, with the Croatian still expected to extend his contract at Real Madrid.