'Ronaldo could make a comeback and shine again in the Premier League'

Rio Ferdinand emphasizes that even at 40, Cristiano Ronaldo remains capable of competing and standing out in the Premier League.

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand recently shared notable remarks about his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, stating that the Portuguese superstar still has the caliber to play in the Premier League despite reaching 40 years of age.

During a visit to Saudi Arabia to watch Ronaldo play for Al Nassr in person, Ferdinand expressed admiration for the form and professionalism his old friend has maintained over two decades. According to him, even playing in the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo continues to prove his value at the highest level.

Ferdinand believes Ronaldo still has the ability to perform brilliantly if he returns to England. In a video posted on the Rio Ferdinand Presentschannel, he stated: “Maintaining consistency and the daily hunger to keep performing at a top level is incredibly difficult. Cristiano does this better than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

Ferdinand also dismissed opinions suggesting Ronaldo is only suited for lesser leagues: “He still scores for the national team, facing some of the world’s best defenders. Don’t say he can’t play in the Premier League. When he was at Manchester United, he was the team’s top scorer. He can do that anywhere. He can come back and shine in this league.”

The former Red Devils defender also recalled witnessing Ronaldo’s goal against Al Ittihad: “The way he moved to lose his marker was perfect. Some 25-year-olds at the peak of their careers still don’t know how to do that.”

Ferdinand revealed that he even sent a video of Ronaldo’s goal to a friend at Manchester United to encourage young striker Benjamin Sesko to learn from the Portuguese star’s movement style.

“Cristiano has instincts that few possess. No matter his age, he always knows how to make a difference.”, Ferdinand concluded.

Ronaldo left Manchester United for the second time in November 2022 following critical comments about the club’s management and coach Erik ten Hag. Less than two months later, he signed with Al Nassr as a free agent, sparking a wave of European stars moving to the Middle East. In 2023, Ronaldo was honored as the top goal scorer worldwide in major national leagues.

This past summer, Ronaldo extended his contract with Al Nassr until 2027, affirming his desire to continue contributing in Saudi Arabia.

He remains the greatest international goal scorer in football history with 143 goals for Portugal, far ahead of second-placed Ali Daei of Iran by 35 goals. CR7 is likely to participate in his sixth World Cup in 2026.