Alarm bells at Man Utd as a new Saudi Pro League ‘king’ will be crowned after Ronaldo outburst | OneFootball

Cristiano Ronaldo’s days in Saudi Arabia could be numbered, while his successor could be his former Manchester United teammate, Bruno Fernandes.

The iconic striker turned 41 earlier this week, but his birthday celebrations were possibly dampened by his ongoing conflict with KSA’s Public Investment Fund.

The PIF famously controls the four biggest clubs in the Arabian kingdom, including Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr. However, the Portuguese superstar wasn’t pleased with the way they handled the recent transfer market window, accusing them of favouring some of his club’s rivals, especially Al-Hilal.

Saudi Pro League turn to Bruno Fernandes & Salah to replace irritated Ronaldo

According to The i Paper, the Saudi Pro League officials would like to prolong Ronaldo’s time in the country, but at the same time, they no longer consider him instrumental to the league’s growth, as they’re happy to invest in scouting and recruiting younger players.

Nevertheless, if CR7 ends up leaving Saudi Arabia, the league will need a new ‘king’, and the source reveals plans to crown either Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, or Man Utd skipper Bruno Fernandes.

Bruno Fernandes looks on while in action vs Fulham. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

While the Egyptian could be the ideal profile to attract the muslim audience, the source explains, the Portuguese playmaker could finally succumb to the Saudis’ tempting offers after snubbing them for years.

Will Bruno finally heed Saudi Pro League’s call?

Last summer, Al-Hilal launched a €300 million onslaught (between wages and the transfer fee) to sign Bruno, but the player eventually turned down the offer, as he and his family preferred to stay in Manchester.

Nevertheless, the midfielder only rendered his decisions after weeks of reflection, as well as negotiations between the club and his agent, who travelled to the Middle East for direct talks.

But despite the constant rejections, Saudi clubs are still keen to recruit Fernandes, who will turn 32 in the summer, so perhaps he might feel it’s the right time to make the most rewarding choice from a financial perspective.

If so, this would be a major blow for Man Utd, as the Portugal international has constantly been the club’s most influential player since his arrival in January 2020.

Although summer signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, and the revitalised Kobbie Mainoo have taken some of the burden off his shoulders, Fernandes remains the most impactful player in the attacking phase.