The biggest clue yet Ronaldo's returning to Sporting?

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 11 Jan 2023 16:01 GMT
• 3 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo is a free agent following his release by Manchester United, and Saudi Arabia has been touted as a likely destination for the Portuguese superstar, but there are signs Lisbon could be his next step…

Ronaldo and Man Utd went their separate ways on the eve of the World Cup after the 37-year-old striker's interview with Piers Morgan, in which he slated the Glazer family ownership, manager Erik ten Hag, and more.

Al-Nassr have since offered Ronaldo a package worth €500 million, but he is yet to commit to seeing out his career in the relative backwater of Saudi Arabian football, and he has now dropped the biggest hint yet that he could play for Sporting once more.

READ: Ronaldo reportedly Al-Nassr-bound

Not with his words, but his actions. Ronaldo has had two cars flown back to Lisbon - a Cadillac Excalade and Bentley Flying Spur - which were than taken to exclusive car valet garage on the outskirts of the Portuguese capital.

Ronaldo is known to own the two vehicles, and there was a certain giveaway for one onlooker.

"The delivery driver tried to unload them with as little fuss as possible, but the lorry blocked the road and that created a bit of a traffic backlog," the told the Sun. "Then the Escalade and the Bentley rolled out of the back and they're very eye-catching.

"They tried to get them into the garage as quickly as possible, but the cars still had British plates. so it was pretty easy to work out they belong to Ronaldo."

Could Ronaldo be set to follow his cars? Is this stage one of a return home?

READ: Man Utd in embarrassing Ronaldo marketing blunder

Sporting chance

Ronaldo first left Madeira for Lisbon when he was 12, joining Sporting's youth academy. He went on to make 31 first-team appearances before Man Utd paid €19m to being him to Old Trafford for the first time back in August 2003.

Ronaldo's mother, Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro, wants him to make the move.

"Ronaldo has to come back, he'd be here for me," she said last year. He likes watching Sporting's games. I've already told him: 'Son, before I die I want to see you return to Sporting.' 'Let's see', he said."