As well as bringing an end to a long-running transfer saga, Cristiano Ronaldo s move to Al Nassr likely brings the curtain down on one of the greatest careers in elite European football history.

The five-time Ballon d Or winner will unquestionably become the highest-profile player to feature in the Saudi Pro League when he makes his debut, but he is by no means the first to make a move of that nature.

A tradition of elite players spending the twilight of their careers in an unfamiliar league – whether for one last payday or to raise the profile of the competition – is long-running.

Here, Stats Perform looks at how a series of other superstars fared after making comparable moves, including all-time greats Pele and Johan Cruyff, and a legendary Spanish midfield…

Marcus Rashford has no intentions of slowing down after continuing his impressive scoring form in Manchester United s 3-0 victory over Leicester City on Sunday.

Rashford was twice on target as United cruised to a straightforward win over Brendan Rodgers side, moving five points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, having played a game more.

The England international has scored 24 times this season across all competitions, his best return in a single campaign, with 16 of those coming in 17 games after the World Cup break.

He has netted 17 goals at Old Trafford in all competitions this term, the most by a player in a single season for United since Wayne Rooney in the 2011-12 campaign.

With a crucial week ahead, in which United face Barcelona in the second…

Inter Milan are interested in signing Manchester United forward Anthony Martial in the summer of 2024, according to . The report has claimed that former Serie A and UEFA Champions League winners are looking to snap up Martial on a free transfer at the end of the season and could try to convince him to sign a pre-contract in January 2024.

Martial is out of contract at United at the end of the season, but the Red Devils have the option to extend it. It remains to be seen if the Premier League club take up the option. The former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners do not want to let Martial go on a free transfer and would like to sell him for a transfer fee in January 2024.

The 27-year-old has been on the books of United since 2015. The French forward has fail…

AS Roma are interested in signing Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar in the summer of 2023, according to . The France international midfielder is out of contract at Ligue 1 outfit Lyon at the end of the season, and Serie A club Roma want to secure his services on a free transfer next summer.

Aouar has been on the books of Lyon since 2009 and has established himself as an important player for the team over the years. The 24-year-old has also played once for the France national football team so far in his career.

The midfielder has made one appearance in Ligue 1 for Lyon so far this season. Last season, Aouar made 29 starts and seven substitute appearances in the league, scoring six goals and providing four assists in the process. The Frenchman made six starts and three substi…

Long-serving striker Chris Kane has extended his stay with St Johnstone by another year after agreeing a new deal for the upcoming season.

The 28-year-old forward has played more than 200 games for Saints since making his debut for the Perth club in November 2013.

There was some doubt about his future after he made only two appearances in the season just finished following a 16-month injury lay-off.

But recently-installed manager Steven MacLean has offered Kane the chance to remain with the club at which he has spent his entire career bar a couple of loan stints at Queen of the South and Dumbarton.

“I’m delighted to sign the extension and stay at the club I have been at since I was 15,” he told the Saints website.

“I look forward to gettin…

Russian Sport Minister Vitaly Mutko is confident that 2018 FIFA World Cup will go as planned explaining that there are no reasons for reconsidering the right to hold the World Championship in Russia.

A year before the FIFA World Cup, Russia will also host the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and the countdown for the competition has officially started in Moscow on Wednesday with 500 until the tournament commences.

Mutko expects this competition to be a success for the Russian national team.

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David Moyes paid a warm tribute to “wonderful man” Bill Kenwright following the death of his former chairman at Everton.

Everton announced on Tuesday that Kenwright had died aged 78 following a battle with cancer.

Moyes and Kenwright formed a close bond during the Scot’s 11-year spell as manager at Goodison Park between 2002 and 2013.

“It’s incredibly sad news,” Moyes said at his pre-match press conference ahead of West Ham’s Europa League clash with Olympiacos.

“He was a wonderful man, he gave me a big opportunity in my career, taking me when I was a young manager in the lower leagues and gave me a job in the Premier League.

“Brilliantly supportive. I couldn’t have had a better chairman, as a young coach.

“When I loo…

Pep Guardiola has declared Manchester City s 2020-21 Premier League success to be the hardest title triumph of his career.

Leicester City s 2-1 victory at Manchester United on Tuesday left Guardiola s side with an unassailable 10-point advantage at the summit with three games remaining.

It is City s third championship win in four seasons and fifth in the past decade, but their manager acknowledged the extenuating circumstances of this campaign made it an achievement like no other.

Guardiola now has nine league titles from his 12 seasons in senior coaching – three apiece with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City – but making it three in Manchester looked unlikely as his players stumbled through the opening weeks of this term.

Defeat at Tottenham in Nov…

Ilkay Gundogan set a new FA Cup final record when he scored after just 12 seconds against Manchester United.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the other quickfire goals from finals.

Roberto Di Matteo (43 seconds) – Chelsea v Middlesbrough, 1997

It only took 42 seconds, so here s Roberto Di Matteo s 1997 Final opening goal IN FULL!

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup)

The Italian scored after just 43 seconds to set Chelsea on their way to a 2-0 win over, with Eddie Newton getting a late second.

Dennis Wise started the move midway inside Chelsea’s half and found Di Matteo, who was still inside the centre circle.

The midfielder was allowed to continue running by the Boro midfield before rifling in high, clipping the bar, past Ben Robe…

Lionel Messi continues to amaze Canada head coach Jesse Marsch after inspiring Argentina to victory in the opening game of the Copa America.

World champions Argentina triumphed 2-0 over Canada in Atlanta, making an impressive start to their title defence in the tournament.

Messi had a hand in both goals as Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez struck in the second half on Thursday.

The Martinez goal saw Messi rack up his 17th Copa America assist. Since 2011, he has registered over three times as many goals created as any other player in the competition, with Angel Di Maria and Alexis Sanchez ranking second on five each.

Messi turns 37 on Monday, and has a stunning 20-year professional career under his belt, but that does not mean he does not continue to stu…