"Can't see him playing to such a small audience" - Pundit says Cristiano Ronaldo is more likely to purchase League One club than to play for them
Former Liverpool defender and pundit Mark Lawrenson says Cristiano Ronaldo is more likely to buy EFL League One club Wrexham than join them as a player. He opined that anything is possible in football at the moment but added he doesn’t see Ronaldo playing his trade at Wrexham due to the club's 'small audience.'
While Cristiano Ronaldo has said he is likely to retire at Saudi Pro League Club Al-Nassr, his current contract with the club will expire next summer. As such, rumors are rife that he may be looking for a new challenge.
Meanwhile, Wrexham are making huge strides in elevating their status in English football. They secured back-to-back promotions from the National Lague and League Two in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, respectively. However, it is unimaginable that Ronaldo would agree to join a club in League One.
Mark Lawrenson, meanwhile, has poured water on the possibility of Cristiano Ronaldo joining the Welsh club. The former Liverpool man ruled out a potential move due to Wrexham’s small stadium capacity. He said (via GOAL);
"Anything's possible in football these days, even Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Wrexham! I would say that it's highly improbable, he's more likely to purchase the club than sign for them in my eyes.
"Wrexham don't seat much more than 10k in their stadium, I can't see him playing to such a small audience in all honesty, that said you'd struggle to get a ticket there if he was playing. He'd fill the stadium anywhere he goes."
It is important to note that Wrexham’s current stadium capacity is 13,341. Since the club's acquisition by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in November 2020, they have made headlines for their ambitious plans and newfound visibility.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo's legacy is intertwined with monumental achievements in stadiums packed with tens of thousands of fans. Lawrenson could be somewhat right with his postulation that the Portuguese captain can’t move to Racecourse Ground. Competing in front of a crowd that barely exceeds 10,000 fans could be seen as a step-down.
Willliam Gallas tips Cristiano Ronaldo to join Wrexham – Reports
Former Chelsea player Williams Gallas believes the Al-Nassr captain could make a surprise move to the League One club. Gallas says Cristiano Ronaldo could move to the Welsh club if the financial reward is tempting. He told Prime Casino (via Mirror)
"Cristiano Ronaldo to Wrexham? Anything is possible in football in the modern game. It wouldn’t surprise me because money talks and we’ve seen that nothing is impossible these days. You see young players going to Saudi Arabia when they would have never left Europe in the past. Footballers and football clubs are now obsessed with their brands too and their sponsors... you can make a lot of money and not just from your wages at your club.
“Now everything is about social media and having millions of followers, and both Wrexham and Ronaldo have huge profiles so why not. I have spoken to my former team-mates about social media and everything that goes on now and it feels like a different world. So many things are now possible. Ronaldo is more than just a footballer; he’s a product and he’s also still scoring so many goals on the pitch. There will be so many clubs still happy to have him.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is still going strong at 39, having recorded eight goals and three assists in nine games across competitions for Al-Nassr this season.