"Knowledge he would bring is crazy" – Pundit backs Cristiano Ronaldo to shine as manager following retirement in future
Ex-Manchester United star Louis Saha has suggested that Portugal great Cristiano Ronaldo would be an excellent manager in the future.
Ronaldo, who is regarded as one of the greatest to grace the beautiful game, will turn 40 next year. He has lifted a whopping 33 trophies at club and country level as a footballer so far and could also retire soon.
During a recent interview with Esports website CSDB.gg, Saha claimed that the Al-Nassr striker could go on to become a fine manager after hanging up his boots. He said (h/t Mirror):
"Cristiano has the ability to be a very successful manager, we've seen his energy and his passion. He'd have the desire of Diego Simeone and the credibility of Zinedine Zidane. That combination as well as all his experience of working under Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti as well as Sir Alex Ferguson, the knowledge he would bring is crazy."
Saha, who played alongside Ronaldo 94 times at United, concluded:
"It's not just about football but he represents so much in terms of how you should conduct yourself and go about achieving your goals. He could be a manager, a club president. It's admirable what he has done, he's a human being that makes mistakes like anybody but he has never stopped working hard."
Earlier in 2017, the ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid star opened up on his wish to become a coach. The 39-year-old told World Soccer:
"I think a lot about it. Right now, I don't want to be a manager. In a few years, people will say that I have the right profile but I don't want to be. It's too complicated. At the moment, I just want to focus on my football, my passion. Nobody knows what the future holds. In five, six, seven years, I might change my mind and become a manager."
Meanwhile, Ronaldo is currently preparing for Al-Nassr's Saudi Super Cup last-four match against Al-Taawoun on Wednesday (August 14).
Cristiano Ronaldo keen to reunite with 24-year-old attacker at Al-Nassr this summer
According to Spanish outlet El Nacional, Cristiano Ronaldo has asked Al-Nassr's top brass to sign Manchester United's Antony this summer.
Antony, 24, has failed to live up to his price tag at the Red Devils so far. He has scored just 11 goals and laid out five assists in 82 matches for his club since departing Ajax in a potential £86 million transfer in 2022.
The left-footed Brazilian winger shared the pitch with the Al-Nassr star seven times at the Erik ten Hag-coached side during the 2022-23 term.