Remember Mario Götze? The guy who scored THAT goal in the 2014 World Cup final? Well, he's just dropped an interesting confession about his future. The Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder says he'd love to join Al-Nassr for one simple reason: Cristiano Ronaldo plays there.
Götze, now 33, made his name with that extra-time winner against Argentina at the Maracana. Germany won 1-0, and his 113th-minute strike became football legend. These days he's still playing top-flight football in Germany, but his head might be turning toward Saudi Arabia.
In a recent interview with MBC, Götze was surprisingly open about the Saudi Pro League. "The development of Saudi football is positive, and there are many young players who want to play there," he explained. "If it were up to me, I'd choose Al Nassr because Cristiano Ronaldo plays there."
It's not just star-struck fanboy talk either. Götze genuinely believes Saudi football is on the rise. He thinks the influx of top talent is raising the technical level and giving young players incredible opportunities. That influx started in December 2022 when Ronaldo made his shock move to the Kingdom.
Since CR7 arrived, the Saudi Pro League has become a magnet for big names. Karim Benzema, Sadio Mané, Riyad Mahrez, and Sergej Milinković-Savić all followed. The league's reputation has completely transformed in just over two years.
How's Ronaldo Performing This Season?
If Götze's watching from Germany, he'll see Ronaldo is still doing what he does best: scoring goals. The Portuguese superstar has bagged 19 goals in 23 games this season across all competitions. Eighteen of those have come in the Saudi Pro League, where Al-Nassr sit third in the table.
They're just one point behind leaders Al-Hilal after 21 games, which makes the title race pretty interesting for anyone considering betting on the Saudi league. Ronaldo recently hit his first goal after turning 41, proving age is just a number. That strike took his career total to 962 goals, 64 more than Lionel Messi.
Could This Transfer Actually Happen?
Götze's contract with Frankfurt runs until the end of this season. That means he could be a free agent in the summer, making a Saudi move financially possible. At 33, he fits the profile of experienced European players moving to Saudi Arabia for one last big payday.
For Al-Nassr, adding another World Cup winner would boost their squad depth. They're chasing the title and need quality options beyond Ronaldo. Götze's technical ability and experience could be valuable in a tight championship race.
Whether this happens or not, it shows how much the Saudi Pro League's profile has changed. When a World Cup final hero publicly says he'd join because of one player, that's genuine star power. Ronaldo's influence on Saudi football extends way beyond just his goals on the pitch.
