Juan Cuadrado has joked he won’t move to Saudi Arabia due to Cristiano Ronaldo.
After a total of eight seasons at the club, the versatile right-sided star recently left Juventus after failing to agree a new deal.
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He is therefore a free agent ahead of the new campaign following 314 appearances for the Turin side.
Throughout the summer transfer window a number of stars including Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante have completed moves from Europe’s top leagues to Saudi Arabia.
Such a switch may have been on the cards for Cuadrado, but he appears to have jokingly ruled out a move because of his former Juventus teammate Ronaldo.
Speaking to AS in Colombia, he said: “At this moment, I still have the passion and I like to compete. Besides, Ronaldo is down there and he doesn’t want me!
“I am very relaxed, thinking of what is best, asking God for help with these decisions. My agent Andrey Martinez was in Europe and has just arrived to talk to me about various situations.
“Obviously, there are options and we’ll analyse which is the best.”
Cuadrado initially joined Juventus on loan from Chelsea in 2015 before making a move there permanent two years later.
Following his exit from Real Madrid in 2018, Ronaldo also joined the Colombian international in Turin for three seasons.
Both would go on to win two Serie A titles during that period, as well as a Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italianas.
Ronaldo then returned to United before completing a move to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr at the beginning of 2023.
He has since scored 14 goals in 19 appearances for the side who finished 2nd in the league last season.
It remains to be seen where Cuadrado will play next, but a reunion with Ronaldo appears to be highly unlikely.
