Cristiano Ronaldo's name never moves away from the headlines, as once again, the star from Portugal sets the soccer market on fire with his list of demands to be able to remain at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Now, according to the Spanish newspaper Marca, CR7 apparently has made the signing of Casemiro his condition to the renewal of his deal, his partner in Real Madrid and Manchester United.
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A reunion of that historic partnership does beg very interesting questions over the future of both players and what such a move would mean for both Al-Nassr and Saudi soccer as a whole. Is Casemiro that missing link to keep Ronaldo flying in the Middle East?
Cristiano Ronaldo's demand
Cristiano Ronaldo is only six months away from being free in the market and, by all indications, intends to use his privileged position to shape Al-Nassr's future. It's no secret that the Saudi club did everything in their power to secure his arrival, offering a millionaire contract along with the possibility to be the team's biggest star. But keeping the star seems an even bigger challenge.
According to Marca, Ronaldo wants a more competitive team. To him, that would be signing only those who already proved their worth on big stages of football. That is where Casemiro comes into the picture.
The Brazilian midfielder, currently at Manchester United, would be an integral part of Cristiano Ronaldo's plan to strengthen Al-Nassr's midfield. Their relationship on the field goes back a long way, with unforgettable moments at Real Madrid, where they won four Champions League titles together.
Is Casemiro the right midfielder for Al-Nassr?
At 32, Casemiro still remains one of the finest midfielders in the world, yet his period at Manchester United has seen lots of ups and downs recently. From being the fan favourite and the praised one in the Premier League after his start, the Brazilian began getting hammered at the start of the 2023/24 season. The English press questioned his future, pointing at his inconsistencies within the club.
With a contract until the end of 2025/26, Casemiro's departure would not be simple. Manchester United invested €60 million in his signing and, despite the criticism, would hardly let him leave without significant compensation. Even so, Cristiano Ronaldo's interest could create pressure behind the scenes and open up possibilities for negotiation.
Also, the presence of such experience in top matches would be extremely important to any team with claims to shine internationally.
Casemiro and Cristiano Ronaldo chemistry
It's not hyperbolic to say that at Real Madrid, there was an era totally commanded by Cristiano Ronaldo and Casemiro. With the first one being able to solve games thanks to his unbelievable attacking qualities, Casemiro was the anchor who provided security for them, covering behind the defensive sector and initiating the plays with high accuracy.
They were the vital duo in one of the most glorious periods in Real Madrid's history, winning four Champions League titles between 2014 and 2018. To reunite these two players would be a little like falling back on a winning formula, only this time in a different context.
But that is the thing about great memories: they happened some time ago. Both of them are at completely different stages of their careers, and that success is difficult to repeat with Al-Nassr. All the same, for fans of the Saudi club, seeing two legends together in action can be a reason for excitement.