Former Manchester United assistant coach Rene Meulensteen recently shared his thoughts on the future of Cristiano Ronaldo

He suggested that the legendary footballer could take on the role of managing the Portugal national team once he steps away from playing.

Ronaldo, who is nearing the incredible milestone of 1,000 career goals, remains a dominant figure in football, especially as the only male player to surpass 900 career goals.

At 39 years old, however, some football fans believe that the time is coming for him to retire from the game, even though his passion and talent are still undeniable.

Meulensteen, who worked closely with Ronaldo during his time at Manchester United, believes that coaching could be an ideal next step for the forward.

In an interview with Mega Dice and GOAL, Meulensteen reflected on his experiences with Ronaldo as a young player.

“I only knew Cristiano when he was coming into the senior team as a young, upcoming, growing player who made a massive impact,” Meulensteen recalled.

“Whether he has the ambition to become a manager, I don’t know. Maybe he does. Would he like to manage Portugal in the future?

I would probably say yes because he’s so passionate about representing his country.

I could definitely see him wanting that.”

Ronaldo’s love for Portugal has been constant throughout his career, from his early days as a promising talent to becoming one of the best players the world has ever seen.

His commitment to his national team was shown when he led them to victory in the 2016 UEFA European Championship and the 2019 UEFA Nations League.