“It’s very difficult” – Cristiano Ronaldo already contemplating life after football

Time waits for no man, and it appears that Cristiano Ronaldo is on the verge of quitting the game where he made his name.

For Sporting, Man United, Real Madrid and Juventus, he has literally and metaphorically been head and shoulders above his team-mates.

Simply put, he’s one of the greatest players to have ever set foot on a football pitch.

Cristiano Ronaldo not likely to manage once he stops playing

Al Nassr are the current recipients of his services and it would seem that they will be the last stop on his footballing journey.

In an interview with NOW, quotes of which have been picked up by CaughtOffside columnist and transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, Ronaldo has not only hinted that retirement will shortly be on the cards, but also that he could well turn his back on the game entirely.

??? Cristiano Ronaldo: "It's very difficult to think that I will be a manager one day".

"In my mind, I'm not considering to be the head coach of any football team. I don't even think about it".

"Probably I see my future doing things out of football", told NOW. pic.twitter.com/YKP34RlQ1L

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2024

“It’s very difficult to think that I will be a manager one day,” he was quoted as saying.

“In my mind, I’m not considering to be the head coach of any football team. I don’t even think about it. Probably I see my future doing things out of football.”

That will come as a huge shock to the many millions of fans that the Portuguese has around the world, who affectionately refer to Ronaldo as the GOAT (Greatest of all Time).

At 39 years of age, most footballers would have long since hung up their boots, though Ronaldo is still super fit and clearly has a burning desire to finish his career in the best possible way.

Given his current level of fitness, he could arguably go on for a few more seasons yet, and it will be interesting to see when the player decides to call it a day.

With his nemesis, Lionel Messi, not getting any younger either, football’s battle royale could soon be a distant memory.