Reported Liverpool target Francisco Conceicao has hinted at a close relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo, with the two regularly holding talks. The Reds are linked with the Portugal international as they search for a replacement for Mohamed Salah.
Salah confirmed this week that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season. Despite signing a two-year contract a year ago, he will leave the club on a free transfer.
It means that Liverpool are likely to be on the search for a replacement in the summer transfer window. According to the i paper, Juventus’ Conceicao has emerged as a target.
The right-winger has established himself with the Italian giants this season, as well as becoming a regular in the Portugal squad. He is reportedly valued at £52 million.
It seems that the 23-year-old has a good relationship with Ronaldo. Upon his arrival at Juventus from Porto in the summer of 2024, Canceicao revealed plans to speak to Ronaldo, and how he uses him as an inspiration.
"I haven't yet spoken to Ronaldo about my arrival in Turin,” he said at his unveiling. “I will speak to him about it in future.
“It is true that there are coincidences between our trajectories, for me he is a reference point as for all Portuguese players, and many others."
Just over a year later, Conceicao gave an update on the talks with his international teammate, with the Portugal legend providing advice on what it’s like at Juventus. "I often talk about Juventus with Cristiano Ronaldo,” he said in an interview with Tuttosport.
“He had a great time at Juve, but says that when you don't win, the pressures increase.”
The two are expected to be playing alongside each other again during this summer’s World Cup in North America. It will be Conceicao’s first World Cup, while Ronaldo will be competing in his sixth instalment of the tournament.
There are a few links between Conceicao and Ronaldo, with both players having been developed in the youth sides of Sporting CP and going on to represent Juventus. Another connection involved Conceicao’s father Sergio Conceicao.
Ronaldo was the player to effectively replace the right winger in the Portugal side after his retirement in 2003. 23-years later, he is a teammate of his son, with both players scoring in the Nations League semi-final win over Germany last summer.
Should Conceicao make the move to Liverpool, Arne Slot will hope that he can leave a similar legacy that Ronaldo did on his clubs. The 23-year-old is likely to be taking advice from the Portugal international for years to come.
Mohamed Salah will leave Liverpool at the end of the season and Fanatics has cut the price of this season's kits with 'M. Salah 11' printing.
