19 June 2023 , 18:33
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Cristiano Ronaldo may be in line for an uncomfortable reunion with old foe Saul Niguez.
Atletico Madrid ace Saul, who spent the 2021-22 season on loan at Chelsea, is the latest European star to be linked with a move to Al Nassr. If the 28-year-old agrees to the switch, he would become a team-mate of Ronaldo's after a number of years as his rival.
Ronaldo and Saul went toe-to-toe on a number of occasions domestically and continentally, most notably when Ronaldo's Real Madrid beat Saul's Atleti in the 2016 Champions League final A few months later, though, the Spanish midfielder made his thoughts about his rival clear.
"Luka Modric is Real Madrid's best player," Saul said ahead of a Madrid derby in November 2016. "We know that they have important players in attack, but Modric moves the team forward."
The comments came despite Ronaldo having scored 51 goals in all competitions the previous season, including the winning penalty in the Champions League final penalty shoot-out. Saul also put away his spot-kick, but it wasn't enough to prevent a second final defeat in three years against Los Blancos.
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Spain international Saul has failed to hit the same heights of late, winning his last senior cap in 2019. He returned to play a part for Atleti last term after his year in London, but Marca reports that there is already an offer on the table from Al Nassr.
Would Saul work well with Ronaldo? Have your say in the comments section
Saul spent time in the Premier League with Chelsea (NurPhoto/PA Images)The same report claims Al Nassr and Atletico are yet to reach an agreement over a transfer fee. Saul's current deal in the Spanish capital runs until 2026.
If a deal goes through, it would continue the influx of European-based players to the Saudi Pro League. Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema is the highest-profile summer arrival, while Ruben Neves is on his way to Al-Hilal and Chelsea playmaker Hakim Ziyech has spoken with Al Nassr.
Despite the high number of moves, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin remains publicly unworried. The Slovenian was asked about the matter in the lead-up to Sunday's UEFA Nations League final, and suggested Saudi football's priorities should lie elsewhere.
"I think that it's mainly a mistake for Saudi Arabian football," Ceferin told NOS (via ESPN). "Why is that a problem for them? Because they should invest in academies, they should bring coaches, and they should develop their own players.
"The system of buying the players that almost ended their career is not the system that develops football. it was a similar mistake in China when they all brought players who are at the end of their career."