Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he is planning to buy a football club in the clearest hint yet about his future after retirement.
Al Nassr star Ronaldo is still going strong at the age of 39 and has previously stated that he intends to score 1000 professional goals before hanging up his boots, with the Portuguese currently on 916.
Speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards on Friday, Ronaldo confirmed that he has no plans to become a coach once he has eventually retired.
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But the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star revealed he intends to become a club owner in the future.
"I'm not a coach. I'm never going to be a coach, president of the club? No. Maybe owner of the club," he said during an interview at the start of the ceremony.
The interviewer then pressed him on his comments, asking: "Is that what you want to do, to become a club owner?"
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To which Ronaldo replied: "Probably. I will see. It will depend on the moment, the right opportunities."
"Have you got any in mind?," the interviewer replied.
Ronaldo cryptically answered: "Not yet, a few maybe."
Ronaldo later doubled down on his comments when asked about the state of his former club United, claiming he would run the team better than current majority owners - the Glazer family.
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"If I will be the owner of the club, I will make the things clear and adjust what I think is bad there," he added.
"I am still very young, I have so many plans and dreams ahead. Mark my words, I will be an owner of a big club. For sure."
Ronaldo has a current net worth of around £636m according to Celebrity Net Worth, a substantial sum but not enough to purchase any of his former clubs except potentially Sporting CP.
Even that would be a push, however, with the Portuguese club currently valued at around £222m according to Statista.
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Ronaldo could potentially look at other clubs in his native Portugal, with boyhood side Nacional a more realistic prospect.
There is also the possibility that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner could be offered the chance to invest in a club in Saudi Arabia.
It is likely the Saudis would welcome investment from Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League as well as his continued involvement with the competition following his retirement.
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Meanwhile, the MLS could be another potential avenue for investment, with Ronaldo's great rival Lionel Messi already holding a reported option in his contract with Inter Miami to purchase an MLS club in the future.
For now, Ronaldo is happy to focus on his playing career and recently played down the likelihood of him retiring in the near future.
"I just want to enjoy playing football. Planning my retirement, whether it's in one or two years, I don't know. I will soon turn 40, and as long as I feel motivated, I will keep going," he said.
"The day I no longer feel motivated, I will retire," he added.
With the 1000-goal target still in his sights and the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, it's unlikely he'll lose that motivation any time soon.
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Football, Al Nassr, Manchester United, Real Madrid
Rory O'Callaghan