Former Man Utd teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo says Portuguese star ‘makes mistakes’ but could be future ‘club president’

Cristiano Ronaldo is being tipped to follow in the footsteps of Diego Simeone and Zinedine Zidane when he transitions into management, according to his former Manchester United teammate Louis Saha.

The 39-year-old Portuguese superstar continues to impress on the field, having scored 50 goals for Al-Nassr last season and participated in his 11th major international tournament at Euro 2024.

Despite his ongoing success, speculation about his future in management is growing.

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Ronaldo's managerial potential

Saha believes Ronaldo has all the qualities needed to excel as a manager. He told CSDB.gg, “Cristiano Ronaldo has the ability to be a very successful manager. We’ve seen his energy and passion. He’d have the desire of Diego Simeone and the credibility of Zinedine Zidane.” Saha added that Ronaldo’s extensive experience working under top managers like José Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, and Sir Alex Ferguson would serve him well in a managerial role.

The former Man Utd teammate further added saying, "It’s not just about football but he represents so much in terms of how you should conduct yourself and go about achieving your goals, he could be a manager, a club president. It’s admirable what he has done, he’s a human being that makes mistakes like anybody but he has never stopped working hard.”

Ronaldo, who has amassed a fortune that could last several lifetimes, has no financial need to continue playing after he retires. Saha acknowledges Ronaldo's impressive career, stating, “He has proven everything he needs to prove. He is the best ambassador of sport in general.”

Currently, Ronaldo is focused on his remaining year at Al-Nassr and possibly extending his career to the 2026 World Cup. The possibility of returning to his first club, Sporting Lisbon, also lingers as he approaches retirement.