Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Pa Sport Staff

Cristiano Ronaldo plans to retire ‘soon’ and expects he ‘probably will cry’

Cristiano Ronaldo is planning to retire “soon” (Zed Jameson/PA) - (PA Wire)

Cristiano Ronaldo is planning to retire “soon” and predicts he “probably will cry” when the time comes.

The 40-year-old Al Nassr and Portugal forward, who has scored 952 goals in his career so far, spoke of his intentions for the future in an interview with Piers Morgan Uncensored.

Asked when he may consider hanging up his boots, Ronaldo replied: “Soon. But I think I will be prepared.

“It will be tough, of course. It will be difficult? Yes. Probably (I) will cry, yes… I’m (an) open person. (It) will be very, very difficult, yes.

“But Piers, I prepare my future since (the age of) 25, 26, 27 years old, I prepare (for) my future. So I think I will be capable to support that pressure.”

Ronaldo left Manchester United for a second time in 2022 but still looks out for their results, now under the guidance of his former Portugal team-mate Ruben Amorim.

Ronaldo left Manchester United for a second time in 2022 (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Archive)

The former Real Madrid and Juventus star, five-time Ballon d’Or winner who has scored 102 times in 115 games for his Saudi club, notes Amorim is trying his best but warns fans should not expect “miracles”.

“He’s doing his best,” Ronaldo said. “What are you going to do? Miracles. Miracles is impossible. We say in Portugal, ‘Miracles is only in Fatima’… And he’s not going to do miracles. They have good players but they don’t have, some of them, in mind what Manchester United is.

“Manchester United is still in my heart. I love that club. But we have all to be honest and look for ourselves and say, ‘Listen, they are not in a good path’. So, they need to change and it’s not only about the coach and players, in my opinion.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.