06 January 2023 , 14:32
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Manchester United could help Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr register Cristiano Ronaldo by signing one of their foreign players.
It's believed Ronaldo, 37, can't play for Al-Nassr because there is not a vacancy for an overseas player in their squad. The Saudi giants have eight other foreigners on their books and are expected to allow one them to leave Mrsool Park to make room for Ronaldo.
One player who could depart is Vincent Aboubakar, as reports in Saudi Arabia suggest United are interested in signing the Cameroon international, 30. The Red Devils are on the hunt for a new striker following Ronaldo's exit by mutual consent in November.
It's unclear when Cristiano Ronaldo will make his Al-Nassr debut (AFP via Getty Images)According to Saudi outlet OKAZ, United and Turkish side Fenerbahce are interested in signing Aboubakar in January. The Red Devils are after a new striker to replace Ronaldo but don't want to break the bank, which means a move for Aboubakar could be ideal.
Whether Aboubakar would arrive on loan or agree a permanent deal remains to be seen. Either way, the transfer is likely to be cheaper than some of the alternatives - including Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix. It would also see United easing Ronaldo's situation, an act which seemed unthinkable after the Portugal international's acrimonious exit.
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Ronaldo left Old Trafford after criticising the club's owners the Glazers, Erik ten Hag and several ex-employees in an interview with TalkTV host Piers Morgan just before the World Cup in Qatar. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner left the club within a month of that chat.
Vincent Aboubakar could be on his way to Manchester United (Getty Images)Do you think Manchester United should sign Vincent Aboubakar? Let us know in the comments below!
Nevertheless, Aboubakar would be seen as a coup for Ten Hag's side. The experienced star is one of the most underrated strikers on the market after scoring 145 goals in 348 games. Many of those goals have come in Europe after spells with Porto and Besiktas.
Aboubakar has also delivered at international level. The Cameroon skipper has scored 35 goals in 94 caps for his country - including the winner against Brazil at the recent World Cup in Qatar - and won the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon six years ago.
In terms of Ronaldo's future, Al-Nassr need to say goodbye to either Aboubakar or another overseas star to register their new hero. Pity Martinez (Argentina), Ghislain Konan (Ivory Coast), Luiz Gustavo (Brazil), Alvaro Gonzalez (Spain), David Ospina (Colombia), Jaloliddin Masharipov (Uzbekistan) and Talisca (Brazil) are their other foreigners.
"Al Nassr has not registered him [Ronaldo] yet because there is no vacancy for a foreign player," an anonymous Al-Nassr official told AFP. "A foreign player must leave to register Ronaldo, either by selling or by terminating the contract by mutual consent."
Al-Nassr will do whatever it takes to register Ronaldo after handing him a £175million per year contract until June 2025, which makes him the best paid footballer on the planet.
Ronaldo must fulfil a two-game ban before he can play for Al-Nassr after being suspended by the FA for slapping a phone out of an Everton fan's hand last season. It's unclear when this ban will be fulfilled due to the confusion surrounding his registration.