Brazilian club Portuguesa have expressed interest in signing Cristiano Ronaldo, with club president Alex Bourgeois revealing his ambition to bring the Portuguese superstar to Brazil.
Portuguesa, who compete in the Paulista A1 Championship, have been exploring opportunities to recruit high-profile European stars after previous attempts to sign Radamel Falcao and Nani.
Speaking to CNN, as quoted by talkSPORT, Bourgeois said the club hopes to strengthen its connection with the Portuguese community in Brazil by targeting Ronaldo. Bourgeois said:
We are behind and we will try for the 2026 Paulistão to bring in a great Portuguese player.
He’s the greatest Portuguese of all time and one of the biggest personalities in the world today. It would be fantastic, but I know many people are trying to convince Cristiano Ronaldo with offers connected to Portugal. Even so, at some point, we have to try to speak with him.
Bourgeois explained that the move is part of a broader long-term strategy to build stronger cultural and sporting ties between Brazil and Portugal.
Our strategic plan is to create a bridge between Brazil and Portugal through Portuguesa. We want the club to become that connection.
There are around 25 million people with Portuguese heritage in Brazil. We believe this project can bring that community closer to the club. Beyond football, there is so much that connects Brazil and Portugal, including food, wine, religion and tourism. We want Portuguesa to represent all of that.
Ronaldo, 40, is approaching the end of his current contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr and is eligible to negotiate with other clubs.
Despite Portuguesa’s ambitious plans, reports suggest the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is more likely to extend his stay in Saudi Arabia, with a new contract reportedly worth around €183 million per year under discussion.
