Rene Meulensteen, one of Cristiano Ronaldo's first assistants at Manchester United, did not hesitate to express his desire to see the Portuguese star leave Saudi Arabia to join Major League Soccer.
The Dutch coach, who worked closely alongside Sir Alex Ferguson during the English club's golden era, assured that world soccer would greatly benefit if Ronaldo, 41, joined the North American competition, even sharing a team or a rivalry with Lionel Messi.
In statements to the BetGoat site (via Goal), Meulensteen said, "Cristiano Ronaldo could continue to succeed in MLS, without any problem. With the right team and players around him, 100%, he could do it. If they give him good passes, he will score. He could succeed in MLS, without a doubt."
His words follow weeks of rumors about tensions between the striker and the Al-Nassr environment, though the atmosphere currently seems to have calmed.
The possibility of Ronaldo joining Inter Miami and playing alongside Messi, 38, generates enormous expectation.
"Playing alongside Lionel Messi in Miami? It would be incredible. Honestly, it would be fantastic. They would be the biggest box-office games every week. Who wouldn't want to see that?" Meulensteen expressed.
He also stressed that just imagining it is exciting and that it could become "the most interesting thing in the history of soccer."
Photo by Gabriel Aponte/Getty Images
Ronaldo 'Would Love' Inter Miami Move to Play Alongside Messi
The former United assistant also left open the chance that Ronaldo might choose another destination within the United States.
"Can you imagine Messi and Ronaldo playing on the same team in Miami? It's a fantastic city. I think he would love to go there. Conversely, it would be incredible to rekindle the rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo. Why not Los Angeles? I think Cristiano would probably move there because it's very close to Hollywood. That's probably his next destination."
Currently, Ronaldo has a contract in Saudi Arabia until 2027, although he has a release clause of 50 million euros, an accessible figure for the American market. Additionally, Inter Miami has an open Designated Player slot, which could lead to a historic signing.
Meulensteen's recommendation is clear: leave Arabia and join MLS to play with or against Messi. A decision that, if it materializes, would mark a before and after in the recent history of world soccer.