Cristiano Ronaldo insists he remains motivated to continue his playing career after suggestions that the Portuguese superstar is desperate to leave Riyadh after just five months.
Ronaldo completed a stunning move to Saudi club Al-Nassr in January and is earning in the region of £173million per year. That is – by a distance – the highest wage in football, which includes image rights and commercial commitments.
Last week, Ronaldo missed out on winning the Saudi title with Al-Nassr, having signed for them midway through the season in December. The Portugal captain scored 14 goals in 16 games but his tally wasn't enough to deny Al-Ittihad their third crown, although Ronaldo hopes to stop them winning a fourth next term.
It has been claimed that Ronaldo and his partner Georgina Rodriguez are both keen to return to Madrid – the city in which they met. It was added that Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were both contacted over a possible transfer earlier this year, but neither club was interested.
This weekend, Atletico boss Diego Simeone even addressed the reports and dismissed the possibility of the Portuguese forward one day joining the club: “Ronaldo could not play for Atletico Madrid in the same way that I could never manage Real Madrid.”
Ronaldo visited Singapore this weekend as part of a promotional event to speak to a young audience. He spoke about what continued to motivate him to continue playing football at the age of 38.
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“I like to do what I do,” Ronaldo insisted. “My passion is to play football. I have played it for many, many years but it is still a joy for me. My motivation is to play and to make people happy. To make myself happy, my family happy and all the kids happy. This is my goal.”
Ronaldo has previously clarified that he is happy in Saudi Arabia and will play in the Middle East nation next season.
"I am happy here, I want to continue here, I will continue here," the five-time Ballon d'Or winner told SPL. "And in my opinion if they continue to do the work that they want to do here, for the next five years, I think the Saudi league can be a top five league in the world.
"I will be part of your world, your culture, I will be here, I hope I make the people enjoy through my games, my performance, and to win things, but again, thank you for welcoming me, and I will try to give my best during the time that I will be here."
