Cristiano Ronaldo proves point to Manchester United with another Al-Nassr hat-trick

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By Martin Graham | 27th Feb 2023

Ronaldo scores another hat-trick for Al-Nassr in 3-0 win over Damac. Al-Nassr climbs back to the top of the Saudi Pro League table.

Since his controversial departure from Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo has looked like a man out to prove his doubters wrong, and he has managed to do it convincingly.

Ronaldo parted ways with United and moved to the Saudi Pro League after the World Cup to play for Al-Nassr. He has now scored his second hat-trick in three games for the team.

The main issue his doubters had with him was his lack of goals, with some even going as far as saying the star is finished because of his age.

Once a world football star, always a world football star

38-year-old Ronaldo has shown that he still has it, and that his age has never been able to stop him from performing at his best. He scored three goals in the first half of the game against Damac.

The third goal was a signal to others who think age has slowed him down, as the Portuguese star made a dashing run from one end of the pitch to the other to receive a pass from Ayman Yahya, and cooly finish it off.

His goals prove that he was right about his capabilities even while he was going through a rough time in United. The controversial interview with Piers Morgan all but confirms his state of mind when he said: “I still believe I can score many, many goals and I can help the team, because I still believe I’m good enough to help the national team and even Manchester United.”

At this point, both parties have moved on. Manchester United are having a great run under Erik ten Hag, and Ronaldo has found a new home in Al-Nassr where he is loved and appreciated, but it’s now clear why he had that rough patch at United.

Ronaldo claims he wasn’t motivated, and he wasn’t getting any love or respect from Erik ten Hag. When he had a chat with TalkTV, he said: “Maybe I’m not motivated as I’m supposed to be. I’m a human being, I feel things. My motivation is not the same as a few months ago.

“I was happy [at Manchester United], I was motivated to do a happy season here.

“I’m still playing at the highest level, scoring goals and I’m going to keep scoring if my mind is clear and happy. If you don’t feel around you that the energy is on your side, it’s difficult.”

Ronaldo in his usual way has done more than just score goals for his new club side. He has provided help in any way he can, and Jose Blesa, the club nutritonist confirms how he has been of great help to the team.

“I was uncertain, like everyone else, about what it was going to be like to work with him and if the club was going to change a lot, but I haven’t found a more professional footballer than him,” Blesa told Ideal.

“Every conversation with him is a learning curve. We met and talked about his diet, about how he understands the importance of this and rest for performance. He wears two rest metres: the ring and the bracelet. He is the first to arrive at training and the last to leave. Dealing with him is wonderful.”