Simpson spelled out the forecast in a promotional interview carried by Goal on Friday, and he landed in a lonely corner of the debate.
“I think he’ll manage. I’ve been toying with this. Does he do the David Beckham thing or does he manage?”
The ex-United defender believes the dugout wins.
“I think he’s got it in him to be a top manager and know the game and study the game.”
Read also: Man City boss delivers Erling Haaland injury update after late scare: ‘We will see’
Simpson then floated David Beckham’s Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer franchise Beckham co-owns, as a potential landing spot. His verdict on that pairing was short.
“That’d be something, wouldn’t it!?”
His case rests on a career-long habit.
“He’s been on the grass every day since he was 16 years old. How do you stop that?”
Read also: LA 2028 Olympics: How India and Pakistan could meet at the Games for the very first time
Nani, Sheringham and Brown all go the other way
Simpson’s conclusion is the outlier. Nani, Ronaldo’s long-time Portugal and United team-mate, told Goal last November that his old number seven would end up in a boardroom rather than a technical area.
“Could Cristiano Ronaldo become a club owner like David Beckham? I think Cristiano can do whatever he wants.”
He expected Ronaldo to succeed in any direction he chose.
“He has the ability to impact people and make them follow and trust him. So I believe what he decides and chooses will be perfect.”
Read also: Gianni Infantino faces fresh threat as David Beckham linked with FIFA presidency
Teddy Sheringham gave the same answer in an Oddspedia interview.
“I can’t see Cristiano Ronaldo going into management after he retires.”
Sheringham, like Nani, pointed to Beckham.
“He’s far more likely to own a club rather than manage one, like what David Beckham has done at Inter Miami.”
Read also: Chwalinska joins Osaka and Andreescu after Wuhan comeback over Kartal
Wes Brown, another former United team-mate, has previously backed Ronaldo to succeed in whatever he picks after retirement.
“You never know what Cristiano Ronaldo wants to do, but you can’t doubt him after everything he’s achieved.”
Ronaldo himself has ruled out coaching
The one voice that matters most has already shut the dugout door. Ronaldo told reporters in 2024 that he could not see himself as a manager.
“It’s very difficult to think that I will be a manager one day. In my mind, I’m not considering to be the head coach of any football team.”
Read also: World Cup winner backs Mbappe for Ballon d’Or but delivers clear Messi and Ronaldo verdict
He has not softened the line since. Speaking to Vogue in August, the 41-year-old said this would most likely be his last year as a player and that he already knew what came next.
“I have my future all mapped out. I have so many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard.”
The move he has actually made
While his old team-mates debate, Ronaldo has already taken a concrete first step, and it goes in Nani’s direction rather than Simpson’s. His CR7 Sports Investments company bought a 25% stake in Spanish second-division club UD Almería in February 2026, the Saudi-owned side he described as a long-term project.
“I have long had the ambition to contribute to football beyond the pitch. UD Almería is a Spanish club with a strong foundation and clear growth potential.”
Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr contract runs until June 2027.
