Latest developments
- Jose Mourinho has spoken to Cristiano Ronaldo about signing for Fenerbahce.
- Mourinho wants the pair, who worked together at Real Madrid, to reunite in Turkey.
- Ronaldo was recently reported to be leaving Al-Nassr for Al-Hilal.
Whisper+ analysis
Authenticity (2/5): Sun not always the brightest
Fenerbahce could pull off the biggest signing the Turkish Super Lig has ever seen by signing Cristiano Ronaldo and reuniting in Istanbul with his former Real Madrid boss, Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho is said to have called Ronaldo about him joining the Turkish side at the end of the season, according to The Sun, whose stories must always be taken with a pinch of salt, though they claim the source came from Turkey.
Value (3/5): Wages could be an issue
With Ronaldo's current deal with Al-Nassr running down at the end of the current campaign, Mourinho has supposedly leapt at the opportunity to sign the Portuguese on a free transfer.
Turkish teams always seem to find a way to pay the aging stars, but being able to offer Ronaldo something close to what Saudi Arabia can guarantee him could be tough, especially with Al-Hilal looking at him as a replacement for Neymar.
Suitability (2.5/5): Can he make the step back up?
As shown at UEFA Euro 2024 and more recently against Scotland, Ronaldo doesn't have it all his own way against opponents of a decent standard anymore. It might not be the best, but the Turkish league will be a step up from the Saudi Pro League, so can Ronaldo, in his fifth decade, still be able to hack it?
Upgrade? (2/5): Ronaldo only adding stardust
The 38-year-old Edin Dzeko is out of contract at Fenerbahce at the end of the season, but given his continued form in front of goal, he may yet earn an extension.
Fenerbahce also has Youssef En-Nesyri and Cenk Tosun vying to play centre-forward, so Ronaldo may sell plenty of shirts but not add much to the team.
Logic (2/5): What more to prove?
Ronaldo may love the idea of a few more games in European competition and the chance to win another league title, but should things go awry, he risks ruining some of his legacy.
Not many people take his goalscoring in Saudi Arabia seriously, but at least they don't diminish the achievements from earlier in his career. Maybe he's better staying put.
Whisper+ verdict: 11.5/25
Linking up with Mourinho again will break the footballing corners of the internet and do wonders for the Turkish Super Lig's marketing, but there seems little for Ronaldo or Fenerbahce to gain on the pitch.
