Cristiano Ronaldo ready for next challenge at Al Nassr: 'I am happy, I will continue here'

Cristiano Ronaldo has conceded his first season with Al Nassr did not live up to his expectations, but the Portuguese star said he is "really positive and confident" that next year will prove different.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward, 38, joined the Riyadh club in late December on a two-and-a-half-year deal reportedly worth more than $200 million per year.

He went on to score 14 goals in 16 league matches, but still concluded the campaign without any silverware. Nassr, top of the Saudi Pro League when Ronaldo arrived in the kingdom, eventually finished second, five points off champions Al Ittihad. The season ended on Wednesday.

Nassr, seeking a first championship since 2019, also lost the Super Cup to Ittihad, while they exited the King's Cup at the semi-final stage to Al Wehda.

In an interview with the Saudi Pro League released on Thursday night – his first full interview since joining Nassr - Ronaldo said: “My expectation was a little bit different. To be honest, I expected to win something this year, but it not always should be the way we think or the way we want. Sometimes we need patience, consistency, and persistence to achieve the best things.

“We improved a lot. Let’s say in the last five or six months, the team has improved so much. Even the league; all the teams improved – and my team as well. It takes time sometimes, but if you believe and you think that’s your goal, everything is possible.

“I expected to win something this year, but we didn’t. But next year I am really positive and confident that things will change, and we go in a better way. So, let us believe that and work on that.”