World Cup winner reveals dream to play with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr

2014 World Cup winner Mario Gotze has expressed an interest in joining Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr after his time at Eintracht Frankfurt.

The 33-year-old is currently on an expiring contract, and it remains uncertain whether Frankfurt will hand him fresh terms. Although both parties have stated that they are open to continuing together, there has been very little progress on the contract front.

As a result, Gotze is becoming the subject of increasing speculation. Having managed to revive his career in recent years, first at PSV in the Eredivisie and then at Frankfurt, the midfielder has no shortage of potential suitors.

The former Bayern and Borussia Dortmund star has been linked with a move to Major League Soccer for years, but he is also fielding interest from other parts of the world. Clubs in Europe and Saudi Arabia are also keeping an eye on his situation.

Despite his age, Gotze still has a lot left in the tank. After struggling for minutes in the early parts of the season, his importance to Frankfurt has increased again under new head coach Albert Riera.

Gotze: I’d like to play for Al-Nassr

During a surprise appearance on Saudi TV, Gotze has now fuelled speculation that his next destination may be the Middle East. Asked if there was a Pro League club he would like to play for, Germany’s 2014 World Cup hero pointed to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.

“If I had to choose, I would move to Al-Nassr because Cristiano Ronaldo plays there,” he said. “But of course, there isn’t just one club here. The way the competition and everything else have developed is also very important, especially for young players.”

Whether signing Gotze would appeal to Al-Nassr is a different question. Saudi clubs have begun to increasingly target younger players, so it seems doubtful that the Riyadh club would use one of their limited foreigner spots on the ageing midfielder.

Moreover, Gotze is no longer the globally recognised superstar that he was a decade ago. While still a big name in Germany, the 33-year-old’s star has faded due to his struggles at Bayern and the serious illness that sidelined him from the game for some time.

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