Brazil legend Rivaldo has weighed in on talk that Zinedine Zidane could link up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.
Zidane, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea, coached Ronaldo during the striker's time at Real where they won three Champions League titles together. Ronaldo signed for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr last year upon his departure from Manchester United but it has not been easy for the 38-year-old.
Al-Nassr were dumped out of the King Cup of Champions at the semi-final stage last month and a run of only one win from their last five games has seen them lose pace with Al-Ittihad at the top of the Saudi Pro League. Al-Nassr sacked Rudi Garcia last month and there are now suggestions that Ronaldo could be part of the process to bring in the club's new coach.
Rivaldo, meanwhile, thinks that such a move for Zidane would be 'unusual' despite the prospect of a handsome financial reward. Zidane has been out of management since he left Real for a second time in May 2021.
"There is talk in the press that Cristiano Ronaldo is pressuring the Al-Nassr board to hire Zinedine Zidane to take over the club, and while I understand Ronaldo's desire to work with someone with whom he was so happy in the past, I think it would be unusual to see Zidane move there," Rivaldo told Betfair. "On the other hand, Zidane could see this as a good opportunity from a financial perspective, and also his friendship for a player who gave him so much in his time at Real Madrid.
"Zidane will certainly have plenty of big European clubs interested in his services and leaving for a second-tier football club in Saudi Arabia would be something unexpected compared to his career goals as a manager. "In my opinion, it will all depend on possible offers he receives from European clubs this summer, and should the offers not be satisfactory enough, perhaps he could consider a brief stint in the fast-growing Saudi Arabian football."
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