Cristiano Ronaldo trains at Real Madrid’s training ground while looking for a new club

Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to Real Madrid’s training ground in Valdebebas, four years after leaving the club after an iconic stay at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Portuguese star, as reported by the Spanish publication Relovotrained alone at the facility as he tries to keep himself in shape while looking for a new club.

Ronaldo has been a free agent since he terminated his contract with Manchester United last month following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan.

It is said that 37-year-old Real Madrid president Florentino Perez asked if he could train in Valdebebas for a few days after Portugal’s departure for the World Cup.

Perez gave Ronaldo the green light to use their facilities, telling the Portuguese star: “Of course this is your home.”

Ronaldo cemented his legacy as one of football’s greatest ever players during his nine-year spell at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Among his wide array of accolades at the club, he won two LaLiga titles, four Champions League trophies, while four of his five Ballon d’Or gongs were awarded to him during his time at the club.

It would have been emotional for Ronaldo to return to the club’s training ground after four tumultuous years.

It’s not quite the same for Ronaldo, however, as he had to train away from the club’s current squad, which is led by his former manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Ronaldo (pictured in 2018) left Real Madrid for Juventus four years ago and is now a free agent

His second stint at Manchester United did not go to plan with his contract mutually terminated

It’s a quick return for Ronaldo, given that most players give themselves a week to relax after their respective World Cup jaunts.

Ronaldo did not have time to return to training, and his search for a new club probably played a big part in this.

His contract with Manchester United was terminated following his interview with Morgan, in which he said he felt “betrayed” by the club and “had no respect” for manager Erik ten Hag.

Drama continued to follow him into the World Cup, after being dropped by manager Fernando Santos ahead of their World Cup matches with Switzerland and Morocco.

He came off the bench in both matches but was unable to impress as they were knocked out by the African country in the quarter-finals.

With the legendary striker turning 38 in February, his list of options, on top of the recent controversy surrounding his departure from United and the World Cup, seems limited.

An interested party in Ronaldo’s services is said to be Qatar Stars League head Antero Henrique.

Henrique allegedly went straight to Ronaldo to express interest in bringing him back to the golfing nation after the World Cup.

He hopes Ronaldo will join a Qatari club, but Mendes is working on another proposal, the report claims.

There were also reports that Ronaldo could join Saudi Arabian team Al Nassr on January 1.

Ronaldo has wasted no time getting back to training after Portugal’s exit from the World Cup

But sources close to Ronaldo told Sportsmail that reports that a deal has been finalized are “nonsense”.

AS claims that Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes are going through another “rocky period” in their long-term relationship.

This wouldn’t be the first time there has been tension in their partnership, as what felt like a “father and son” relationship has experienced “ups and downs” over the years.

Ronaldo has always had a good relationship with Madrid’s president, who stated on Onda Cero in 2019: ‘Cristiano Ronaldo never created a problem in Madrid. He has been an example and I will remember him as the best player we signed.

‘He has always been exemplary, a craftsman like the head of a fir tree. I’ve always had a perfect relationship with him and I’ve never had any personal or financial problems.’

More to follow…