Premier League side among favourites to sign Cristiano Ronaldo

A quick return to England for Ronaldo?

Ronaldo reportedly wants to leave the Saudi side less than 12 months into his bumper £175m-a-year contract that expires in 2025.

The 38-year-old has 12 goals from 13 games for Al Nassr and scored in their 4-0 win against Al Raed on Friday to take his side to within three points of top of the table Al-Ittihad.

However the Portugal international already wants to move on from the Middle East, with a return to Real Madrid in a non-playing ambassadorial role being mentioned.

El Nacional said: "Florentino Perez has guaranteed that [Ronaldo] will not lack work at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"But, obviously, he wouldn’t do it to be a player, because he considers that it is a cycle that should be considered closed."

Georgina Rodriguez, Ronaldo’s partner, is also said to be hoping for a return to the Spanish capital, where the couple first met.

Ronaldo is one of Los Blancos’ greatest-ever players having scored 451 goals in 438 appearances.

Paddy Power currently claim that a move to the MLS is the most likely outcome for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner while an emotional return to where it all started at Sporting Lisbon.

Eddie Howe was previously asked about the possibility of signing Ronaldo following his Manchester United exit in November but played down reports of a move to St James' Park.

"We wish Cristiano all the best but there's no truth in that from our perspective," he said in January.

Related links:

• Cristiano Ronaldo already wants to leave Al Nassr
• Cristiano Ronaldo could be deported from Saudi Arabia
• Cristiano Ronaldo names best XI of teammates