Sporting's special tribute to seduce Ronaldo into return
Robin Bairner
- 29 Sept 2023 11:25 BST
- 4 min read
Cristiano Ronaldo will not be tempted to return to Sporting CP with money, but the Portuguese side could seduce the five-time Ballon d’Or winner with a unique honour.
The Lisbon side are putting to vote the No.7 gate at the Jose Alvalade Stadium to be renamed in honour of Ronaldo, who has worn the famous shirt number so regularly throughout his career.
Ronaldo is currently excelling in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr, where he enjoys one of the biggest wages in the sporting world.
MORE: Ten Hag faces BIZARRE criticism over Cristiano Ronaldo's Man Utd exit
He has scored nine goals in six games this season, laying on four more, for a club he joined in January following his acrimonious departure from Manchester United.
But while the 38-year-old’s legacy at Old Trafford has been tainted by that episode, he retains legendary status at Sporting, where there is a desire to pay tribute to a player who came through their academy to become an undisputed great of the game.
“A third point has to do with paying tribute to the great figures in Sporting’s history,” president Joao Palma announced when the agenda for the AGM was proclaimed.
“A proposal that came from the board of directors is to give Cristiano Ronaldo’s name to gate 7 in the stadium. He represents a great deal to Sporting.”
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Ronaldo only played one season in the club’s first team, scoring five goals in 31 appearances for the team before moving to Manchester United, where he would become a legend.
He has often spoken about potentially returning to Sporting CP at the end of his career, though the latest indications are that he is settled in Saudi Arabia and will not play in Europe again.
The Portuguese club will hope this gesture might help change his mind, although any movement is unlikely to be before the end of June 2025, when his Al-Nassr contract expires.
’Ronaldo still the best in the world’
Ronaldo’s continued high standards with Al-Nassr, meanwhile, mean that he is still hailed in Portugal as the world’s greatest striker.
Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro confirmed that in an interview with AS: “Cristiano Ronaldo continues to be the best in his position. He has a team with so much quality that will provide him with goals, which is what he does best.”
Ronaldo's Al-Nassr are back in action on Friday against Al-Ta'ee in the Saudi Pro League.
