Transfer Centre

Piers Morgan: 'Cristiano Ronaldo wants to join a Champions League club'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 03 December 2022

Morgan: 'Ronaldo wants to join a Champions League club'

Cristiano Ronaldo wants to continue his career at a Champions League club rather than move to Saudi Arabia, according to his close friend Piers Morgan.

Cristiano Ronaldo wants to continue his career at a Champions League club, according to his close friend Piers Morgan.

The 37-year-old recently had his contract terminated by Manchester United, with the club being forced to act following his explosive interview with Morgan on TalkTV.

Ronaldo is currently representing Portugal at the 2022 World Cup, with Fernando Santos's side progressing to the last-16 stage of the competition, where they will take on Switzerland.

The forward will be searching for a new club after the international competition, though, and there has been a host of speculation surrounding his future.

A recent report claimed that Ronaldo was close to agreeing a £173m-a-year deal with Saudi Arabia outfit Al-Nassr.

Cristiano Ronaldo scores a penalty for Portugal against Ghana at the World Cup on November 24, 2022 © Reuters

Morgan recently insisted that was not the case, and the 57-year-old has said that the striker is instead looking to continue his career at a Champions League club.

"He thinks that if he does well at this World Cup, he'll get what he really wants, which is a club in the Champions League that extends his record and his legacy," Morgan told The Telegraph.

"It's not about money at this stage of his career. It comes down to a burning desire to play football at the highest level, to break records and win trophies.

"And he has done that in more countries than any other player in history."

Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Sporting Lisbon are among the European clubs to be linked with Ronaldo since his departure from Man United was confirmed.

Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Manchester United on October 13, 2022 © Reuters

However, Bayern chief executive Oliver Kahn recently said that his side would not be moving for the free agent.

"I can rule out a move for Ronaldo," Kahn told Sky Sports News. "We've considered it, we all love Ronaldo but the strategy is different.

"We've a clear idea, philosophy of how our squad should be put together".

Ronaldo is the highest goalscorer in the history of the European Cup, netting 140 goals in 183 appearances in the competition, which places him 11 goals ahead of Lionel Messi.

The desire to end his career clear at the top of the charts ahead of Messi is believed to be one of the main reasons why the Portuguese wants to move to a Champions League club.