Despite talking to Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, Ronaldo says he wants to play for Brazil’s Flamengo next year, but the star player may retire if he fails to get back to his best.
“If in January I feel that something is missing, if I realize that I won’t be able to play as well as before, I will retire,” Ronaldo said.
The three-time FIFA Player of the Year, now almost fully recovered from his latest serious knee surgery, told Brazil’s Globo TV late Monday that his playing time in Europe may be over even though some top clubs have shown an interest in him.
Ronaldo said he had “very interesting talks with Manchester City,” and that Paris Saint-Germain “has been showing a lot of interest,” but his first choice will be Flamengo, Brazil’s most popular club.
“Flamengo is the favourite,” Ronaldo said. “It is my dream to play for Flamengo. (The club) is in pole position right now.”
Ronaldo, a longtime fan of Flamengo, has been practising with the five-time national champion the past few months as part of his recovery from knee surgery. The 32-year-old striker ruptured a tendon in his left knee in a Serie A match with AC Milan in February - the third major knee injury of his career.
“It will depend a lot on how I’ll be feeling in January,” Ronaldo said. “I don’t want to go to Flamengo just because it is my dream or as a favour. I have to deserve it. I know that if I don’t play well, I’ll be jeered by fans at Maracana just as the other players will.”
The striker, who has been without a club since his contract with AC Milan expired in June, is now trying to regain his fitness and says he only wants to play on if he can recapture his best form.
“It won’t work If I’m well physically but not as fast as before. And I need to able to lose weight too, which could be another problem,” Ronaldo said.
Despite making it clear that he expects to continue playing, Ronaldo said the “decision can’t be made right now.”
“I want to wait until January to see If I’ll be in condition to wear a team’s jersey again,” he said.
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NO RONALDO NOOOOOO…. dont retire no matter what! YOU have to play, after fighting the injury for this long all your hard work and every ones hopes of you returning to the game will go to waste!! Even if your not at your best, that level of yours is better then anyones best level! Also please play in Europe! Manchester City should be the aim, the whole world is waiting for your return… after all the controversy you have been in, you can prove to the whole world that at the end of the day your an athlete a great sportsman who loves the game and can play at the best level even after suffering injury’s. Playing Europe will make you better, stronger and more skillful, you WILL get chosen for the Brazil national team and YOU will play in the world cup 1 more time and win it with BRazil!! i am saving penny by penny to watch you in South Africa!! Also the champions league is a tournament that you have not yet won! after you win that, you will be the most complete player! DONT RETIRE!!! thanks!
I totally agree with Ronaldo’s biggest fan. He is a fenomenon and he shouldn’t give up. Other players retire at 38-40. I think he still has a lot to prove cuz he’s only 32. My biggest dream is to see him at the WC2010 South Africa the he can retire. He still got the magic in his feet. I can feel that. I love football because of this guy. :((
Nooooo Ronaldo you cant make this man, please dont retire and stay in Europe, i want to see you playing in Europa and WC2010, make it like Rivaldo and stay in Europa till you 35-36 then you can go to play in Flamengo, you are a phenoman man your lowest level is still Worldclass man!!
i think all of ronaldo’s recent comments prove that he is going to make a comeback, and i am so freaking excited to watch him play again. He’s focused and knows what he has to do. there will be a repeat of 2002 for ronaldo and we can watch him destroy once again. sempre il fenomeno
if ronaldo retire i dont want to watch football any more
i just hope he will coming back becuse he still number 1 for me
no matter wath and this game make me fucking upset
i think u can play again and be best if u want… i love football because of u.. i cant image the world soccer without You. I`m sure u has the ebility to return. you are my favorit football player.plz try to back
RONALDOOOO WE NEED YOU!!!!!!!!!!
Don’t even think about retiring!!!!!
I L O V E Y O U ! ! !
obviously, Ronaldo is one the most important & impressing heros in our adolecents..regardless the future happenings, I remember “The Rabbit” in Barca & Inter Milan, who amazingly surprised all the football fans in all over the world..No football fan can neglect the memory of him. He showed in the 2002 world cup that a star has something never would set. We all love him, but we may have to accept that he must finish it as a shining star!