Cristiano Ronaldo has stated that he loves watching Sporting games and acknowledges it as his team, but he is not planning to return to play there. He mentioned that everything has a time and a limit, and returning to Portugal does not make sense for him at this stage of his career. The decision is influenced by the need to take a significant pay cut if he were to return to Portugal from Saudi Arabia.

Cristiano Ronaldo's future remains uncertain with his contract at Al-Nassr set to expire in the summer. Sporting CP has introduced a third kit dedicated to Ronaldo, fueling speculation about a possible return to his former club. It is anticipated that Sporting CP might initiate formal contract discussions with Ronaldo in January. The club's decision to dedicate a shirt to Ronaldo is perceived as an effort to entice him back. Ronaldo has frequently been associated with a return to Sporting CP, where he started his professional career.

There is talk of an emotional return to Sporting Lisbon. However, Ronaldo has insisted he is unlikely to return to Europe and is happy at Al Nassr, where he is tied down until 2025.

René Meulensteen, former coach of Manchester United's reserves and assistant to Alex Ferguson, expressed his desire for Cristiano Ronaldo to return to Sporting. He noted that it would be romantic for Ronaldo to come back to Europe to conclude his career and mentioned various good reasons for such a move. Meulensteen emphasized the player's significance and his potential contribution to the team, despite acknowledging that Ronaldo is no longer the same player he was at 28 years old.