CRISTIANO RONALDO has lifted the lid on his retirement plans and revealed he does not want to become a manager.
There is huge uncertainty over the 39-year-old’s future for club and country.
Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr contract expires at the end of this season and it remains to be seen whether Euro 2024 heartbreak was his last major tournament for Portugal amid calls for him to be dropped.
Ahead of manager Roberto Martinez naming his squad for the Nations League ties against Croatia and Scotland, CR7 revealed he is not retiring just yet and made himself available for selection.
He told Portuguese outlet NOW: “I want to be able to help the national team in their upcoming matches.
“We have the Nations League ahead of us and I would really like to play.”
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He was then quizzed on when he will hang up his international boots, replying: “When I leave the national team, I won’t tell anyone in advance.
“It will be a very spontaneous decision on my part, but also a very well thought-out one.
“At the moment, I’m not thinking about being a coach of the first-team or any team.
“It doesn’t even cross my mind, I’ve never thought about it. I don’t see my future going through that.
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“I see myself doing other things outside of football – but only God knows what the future holds.”
Ronaldo has several lucrative side hustles, having invested in hotels, gyms and clothing lines.
The Manchester United and Real Madrid legend also launched his own YouTube channel last week.
And he has even been bizarrely tipped to go into celebrity boxing.
On his retirement from football, girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez said back in March: “Cristiano, one more year then it’s over. Maybe two, I don’t know.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s red cards
Ronaldo picked up his 12th career red card against Al-Hilal
- Aston Villa vs MAN UTD (2004) – Yellow cards for diving and chipping goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen after the whistle had gone.
- Man City vs MAN UTD (2006) – Straight red card for a high tackle on former United legend Andy Cole, of all people.
- Portsmouth vs MAN UTD (2007) – Straight red card for headbutting midfielder Richard Hughes.
- Man City vs MAN UTD (2008) – Yellow card for a cynical foul on Shaun Wright-Phillips, second yellow for a deliberate handball.
- REAL MADRID vs Almeria (2009) – Ronaldo’s first home red card. One yellow for taking his shirt off to celebrate a goal. A second yellow for aiming a kick at midfielder Juanma Ortiz.
- REAL MADRID vs Malaga (2010) – Straight red card for a stray elbow which fractured defender Patrick Mtiliga’s nose. Ronaldo said afterwards: “If he wasn’t 5 foot 6, I might have caught him in the chest.”
- REAL MADRID vs Atletico Madrid (2013) – Ronaldo received a straight red card for a high kick in Atleti captain Gabi’s face as Real lost the Copa del Rey final 2-1 on home soil.
- Athletic Bilbao vs REAL MADRID (2014) – Straight red card for striking an opponent in the face during a skirmish before a corner.
- Cordoba vs REAL MADRID (2015) – Straight red card for kicking left-back Edimar and pushing centre-back Jose Angel Crespo
- Barcelona vs REAL MADRID (2017) – Ronaldo made it a red card in the Manchester derby, Madrid derby and El Clasico in the 2017 Spanish Super Cup. The Portugal star received yellow cards for removing his shirt to celebrate a goal at the Nou Camp and diving. He made matters worse by aiming a slight push at the referee after getting sent off.
- Valencia vs JUVENTUS (2018) – Controversial red card after defender Jeison Murillo threw himself to the ground as the pair jostled for position.
- Al-Hilal vs AL-NASSR (2024) – Little doubt about this one as Ronaldo appeared to swing his elbow twice at defender Ali Al-Bulayhi.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
