Cristiano Ronaldo could potentially make a highly anticipated return to Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
According to reports from Spain cited by The Mirror, the La Liga powerhouse is considering inviting Ronaldo’s current team, Al-Nassr, to participate in a friendly match at the newly renovated Bernabeu. The aim is to have the Saudi Pro League team engage in a friendly match at the prestigious venue.
Ronaldo departed from Real Madrid in 2018 amid disagreements with the club’s president, Florentino Perez. Nevertheless, he remains one of Los Blancos’ most illustrious figures, having left a remarkable legacy as the club’s all-time leading scorer with 450 goals and 131 assists in 438 appearances.
Although a specific date for the proposed friendly has not been finalized due to ongoing construction at the Bernabeu, it is speculated that the match could occur during the winter break of the upcoming season.
In recent times, Ronaldo appears to have reconciled his relationship with Perez and still holds affection for his former club. He notably attended Real Madrid’s 4-1 victory in the Supercopa de Espana final last month at Al-Awwal Stadium in Saudi Arabia.
Since joining Al-Nassr in January 2023, the former Manchester United star has continued to demonstrate his remarkable prowess, tallying an impressive 38 goals and 13 assists in 44 appearances across various competitions.
A potential reunion at the revamped Bernabeu could see Ronaldo face off against Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe, who is strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid at the end of the current season.
Fans are eagerly anticipating the possibility of witnessing this clash, especially after missing out on a long-awaited encounter between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The anticipated ‘Last Dance’ between the legendary duo was delayed as Ronaldo was sidelined due to injury during Al-Nassr’s 6-0 friendly victory over MLS side Inter Miami on February 1.
Real Madrid initiated the renovations of the Bernabeu in 2019, although progress was interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions surrounding Russia’s attempted invasion of Ukraine. The extensive renovations, costing the club approximately £1 billion, include the installation of a new retractable roof and skywalk, resulting in an increased capacity of 85,000 spectators.
