Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr could launch move to sign Lionel Messi’s 31-year-old Argentina teammate if they miss out on Premier League star: Reports
Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr could sign Lionel Messi's Argentina teammate Emiliano Martinez to replace David Ospina this summer. This would occur if the Knights of Najd miss out on acquiring Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, according to Caught Offside.
Al-Nassr had a memorable campaign with Cristiano Ronaldo winning the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot. The 39-year-old broke Abderrazak Hamdallah's all-time record of 34 goals from the 2018-19 campaign, with 35 goals and 11 assists in 31 league appearances. He was, however, unable to prevent Al-Hilal from winning the title.
Luis Castro and Co. struggled to be consistent at the back, with their goalkeepers being called into question. Nawaf Al-Aqidi had a decent start with six clean sheets in 25 appearances across competitions. However, he was handed a five-month suspension in February after insulting the administrators while on national duty, as per Saudi World Football.
Fortunately, David Ospina was able to deputize for him after recovering from an elbow injury. However, he failed to make much of an impact, keeping five clean sheets from 15 appearances.
Ospina is reportedly set to leave Al-Nassr as a free agent this summer. Hence, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr have prioritized Manchester City shot-stopper Ederson as his replacement with Castro a big admirer of the Brazil international.
Ederson is renowned for his phenomenal distribution and reflexes in front of goal. He helped City win their fourth Premier League title in a row this season, keeping 16 clean sheets in 43 appearances across all competitions. The Brazilian is contracted to City until 2026 but is yet to decide on his future amid reports linking him with a move away from the Etihad.
Nevertheless, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr are ready to hold talks with Manchester City and Ederson could be available for €40 million. However, if they fail to sign him, their backup plan would be to sign Lionel Messi's compatriot Emi Martinez.
Martinez notably helped Lionel Messi and Co. secure World Cup glory in 2022, winning the Golden Glove. He helped Aston Villa qualify for the UEFA Champions League this season with 15 clean sheets from 47 appearances across competitions and would also bolster Al-Nassr's squad.
How have Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi fared in 2024?
Cristiano Ronaldo's season with Al-Nassr recently came to a close with a heartbreaking 5-4 penalty loss to Al-Hilal in the King's Cup of Champions final. In contrast, Lionel Messi has had a bright start for Inter Miami this season with the MLS starting in February.
Let's dive into their stats for 2024 to see how both icons have performed so far:
Cristiano Ronaldo had an exceptional end to the season in 2024, accumulating 20 goals and two assists in 20 appearances across all competitions for Al-Nassr. Unfortunately, despite his best efforts, Faris Najd ended their season without any silverware. He will be aiming to win his second Euros this summer with Portugal.
On the other hand, Lionel Messi has netted 14 goals and registered 11 assists in 15 appearances for Inter Miami to date. While he is yet to win a trophy this season for the Herons, he will look to retain the Copa America for Argentina later this month.