Cristiano Ronaldo’s influence has led to one Manchester United star claiming that he wants to “reach the level” the Al Nassr achieved in his legendary career.
The 39-year-old Manchester United legend was in fine form for Al Nassr in the 2023-24 season, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring 44 times across all competitions.
Ronaldo scored 35 times in 31 Saudi Pro League appearances in his most recent campaign, despite Al Nassr missing out on the league title to Al Hilal.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner did set a new Saudi Pro League scoring record after his brace against Al Ittihad in the 4-2 win at the King Saud University Stadium.
Ronaldo’s feat allowed him to overtake Al Ittihad striker Abderrazak Hamdallah, who scored 34 times in the 2018-19 Saudi Pro League season.
However, Abderrazak Hamdallah set his tally by playing four fewer matches than former United superstar Ronaldo.
Ronaldo has been with his current side since 2023 after he left Old Trafford in 2022 for the second time in his illustrious playing career.
The Portuguese forward fell down the pecking order after Erik ten Hag’s arrival at United and Ronaldo made his feelings clear in a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan in 2022.
Man Utd star praises Ronaldo’s influence
Cristiano Ronaldo will return to international duty this summer after Roberto Martinez included the Manchester United legend in his 26-man Portugal squad.
The Al Nassr and Portugal skipper will link up with former United teammates Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes for Euro 2024 in Germany.
Portugal are set to face Finland on Tuesday evening in the first of three friendly matches ahead of the tournament this summer.
Bruno Fernandes opened up about the influence that Ronaldo has had on him and revealed that the Portugal captain has reached a level he wants to hit in his career.
“One day I want to reach the level he is at,” he told Portugal’s official social media channels.
“I want to play where he plays. To do the feints he does, shoot the way he does.
“You see these moves that our idols do and try to recreate them in our own way.”
Portugal prepare for Euro 2024 with Ronaldo
Portugal face Finland at the Estadio Jose Alvalade before taking on Croatia on 8th June and the Republic of Ireland on 11th June.
Roberto Martinez’s men are in Group F at Euro 2024 and will face Turkey, Georgia and the Czech Republic in a bid to reach the knockout stages of the competition.
The Portugal manager, who replaced Fernando Santos as head coach in 2023, insisted that Ronaldo remains a pivotal part of his plans ahead of Euro 2024.
“As for Cristiano Ronaldo, I think it’s better to talk about statistics,” Martinez said in May.
“A player who scores 42 goals in 41 games for his club shows continuity, a physical ability to always be fit and quality in front of goal that we really like and need.”