Son of Cristiano Ronaldo poised to sign for Real Madrid

Madrid—The next chapter of the Ronaldo legacy may soon be written at Valdebebas. Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., the 15-year-old son of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, trained with Real Madrid’s under-16 squad on Tuesday morning, intensifying speculation that he is on the verge of joining La Fábrica, the club’s famed academy.

The teenager, who has already sampled academy life at Manchester United and Juventus during his father’s career moves, currently plies his trade with Al-Nassr’s youth setup in Saudi Arabia, where Cristiano Ronaldo Sr. has played since 2022. According to The Athletic, via Marca, the session with Madrid’s cadetes marks the clearest indication yet that Ronaldo Jr. will formalise a transfer in the coming weeks.

Although no contract has been signed, the mere presence of the forward at Real Madrid’s training complex has fuelled expectations that he will take up residence at the academy’s facilities alongside the club’s most promising prospects. Ronaldo Jr. has already earned international recognition, debuting for Portugal’s under-15 team, and a switch to the Spanish capital would represent the most significant step in his fledgling career.

The development inevitably invites questions about the elder Ronaldo’s future. The 39-year-old remains under contract at Al-Nassr for another 15 months and is understood to be intent on reaching the 1,000-goal milestone—he currently sits on 964—before retiring. Once his playing days conclude, sources close to the family suggest a return to Spain is plausible. Ronaldo recently acquired a 25-percent stake in Segunda División side Almería, and overseeing both his investment and his son’s progress could coincide with a permanent move back to Iberian shores.

For now, the spotlight belongs to the younger Ronaldo. If the anticipated transfer is completed, Madridistas will hope that the surname once synonymous with 450 goals and four Champions League titles in the white shirt will again echo through the Bernabéu—this time from a fresh-faced teenager eager to carve his own path.