Ricky Regufe: The man behind Cristiano Ronaldo and his new life in Saudi Arabia

Landing in Saudi Arabia to complete his move to Al-Nassr, it came as no surprise to see Cristiano Ronaldo alongside close friend Ricardo Regufe.

The pair have been almost inseparable since meeting in 2003, with Regufe being a constant presence at every step of Ronaldo’s career, from teenage prodigy at Sporting Lisbon to global icon signing a record-breaking deal in Saudi Arabia.

Regufe was responsible for orchestrating Ronaldo’s sensational £175million-a-year move, with the 43-year-old playing a vital role in the star’s life both as a friend and as a personal manager.

Ricardo Regufe, right, had brokered the deal for Cristiano Ronaldo to join Al-Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured) was officially unveiled as an Al Nassr player on Tuesday night

Known as Ricky, he was constantly pictured at Ronaldo’s side throughout his career. Whether the star then picked up the Ballon d’Or, went on holiday and even featured in the Portugal national team – much to the perceived annoyance of the star’s teammates.

The two have been friends for 20 years since they first met in 2003. Regufe himself had given up his own dream of becoming a professional soccer player at the age of 21 when he pursued a career in sports marketing.

He was recruited by Nike to look after their interests in his native Portugal, with the junior PR man at Sporting Lisbon meeting a then 16-year-old Ronaldo.

Regufe was key in Ronaldo signing a boot deal with Nike early in his career

The pair maintain a close relationship with Regufe, a close confidant of Ronaldo

Regufe, center, has taken a bigger role in Ronaldo’s career following his split from Jorge Mendes

Regufe was very influential in Ronaldo forging close ties with the sportswear giant. successfully persuaded the teenage winger to sign a boot deal with Nike, which has since become increasingly lucrative.

Regufe himself admitted that the deal was a turning point for Ronaldo, Nike and himself.

“Working for Nike at the age of 21 was a dream come true! And I was far from knowing that it would change my life forever! 2 years after I started I signed the best player ever,” Regufe wrote on LinkedIn.

“It was a complete game changer for Nike, for CR and of course for me! What an incredible journey! 18 years of work for such a great company with so many talented colleagues, players, coaches, agents etc.

“I learned a lot with everyone. It helped me achieve the best I could through lots of dedication, passion, hard work, resilience and consistency! There is no finish line…!’

Regufe has been pictured alongside Ronaldo at key moments in his career

Regufe became Ronaldo’s personal manager in 2018 after his previous stint at Nike

While managing Ronaldo’s commercial endorsements was Regufe’s original role, the bond goes far beyond the superstar striker’s business interests.

Ronaldo, along with his family, has regularly posted photos for Regufe and eaten with him and his son. The closeness between the two led to their relationship being nicknamed “Cricky”.

The manager’s social media accounts have also documented his travels with Ronaldo, including visits to UFC star Conor McGregor and boxer Gennady Golovkin.

Regufe – second from left – has been a close associate of the legendary striker since 2018

Regufe fulfills the role of Ronaldo’s personal manager and spends a lot of time with his family

Although he has become a fixture in Ronaldo’s life, including his role as cameraman on occasions for major events including his arrival in Saudi Arabia, Regufe also shared photos of his private life on Instagram.

He is married to fashion blogger Claudia Dinis, both of whom have appeared on their social media channels in Ronaldo shirts, and the couple have a daughter.

Regufe’s overall work throughout his career has been praised, with Liverpool’s current sporting director Julian Ward among those who have spoken fondly of him. Ward joined the executive on LinkedIn in 2013, having previously worked at the Portuguese Football Federation between 2008 and 2010.

“Ricardo is an intelligent and organized professional who has developed strong relationships with coaches, players and practitioners involved in elite sport,” Ward wrote.

Ricardo has a clear understanding of the demands of international and professional sport. His knowledge of the football industry enabled him to identify and support elite athletes who represent the Nike brand.

‘His outstanding personal skills, integrity and open-minded nature have meant that he has always been a pleasure to work with.’

Regufe was pictured alongside boxing star Gennady Golovkin with Ronaldo

He was on the Ronaldo team when they visited Conor McGregor (center) in Las Vegas

According to Athletic, Regufe was viewed similarly by Manchester United, with Ronaldo’s personal manager seen as an “effective operator” but with the club possessing the “ability to persuade the star to do things”.

The club’s hierarchy reportedly considered Regufe to be the first port of call should the star appear off the pitch for the club.

However, the magnitude of Regufe’s role in Ronaldo’s life has rubbed others the wrong way as his presence was a source of controversy during Portugal’s World Cup campaign in Qatar.

According to reports in Portugal, Regufe is said to have an ‘excessive influence’ on the star, with a number of players failing to ‘understand’ the reason why he joined the squad.

Regufe is married to fashion blogger Claudia Dinis and the couple has one daughter

Ronaldo’s personal manager reportedly shared rooms designated for players and some questioned why he is always in close proximity to the team – including on matchdays.

However, Regufe has long featured in the Portugal line-up, sharing Ronaldo’s successes and disappointments with the national team.

Since then, Regufe has appeared on the sidelines on numerous occasions, notably being the first to celebrate with the striker as Portugal triumphed in the final of Euro 2016, a game that saw Ronaldo tearfully substituted with an injury.

Such is their relationship, the two were spotted hugging on the pitch after the extra-time triumph against France.

His presence at Portugal games has reportedly been questioned by some players

Regufe is said to have had an “excessive influence” on the Portuguese star

Regufe, who has largely managed the commercial side of Ronaldo’s career, has reportedly increased in recent years since leaving Nike to become his personal manager in 2018.

His involvement continued to grow following Ronaldo’s split from super agent Jorge Mendes, who had overseen Ronaldo’s big money moves throughout his career.

The split followed an alleged disagreement over Ronaldo’s controversial interview with Piers Morgan, which hastened his departure from Manchester United in November.

Like Mendes, Regufe is said to have advised Ronaldo against the interview which dashed any remaining hopes of a move to a major European club.

However, Regufe instead stepped forward to negotiate his move to Al-Nassr, which has seen him become more involved in his sporting career.

With Ronaldo embarking on a new journey in Saudi Arabia, the ‘one-of-a-kind player’ will no doubt have Regufe by his side every step of the way to support the new life he and his family will lead in the Middle East.