CR7 agrees blockbuster Saudi deal
LONDON. — Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly agreed a bumper £172.9million-a-year contract with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
The 37-year- old had his Manchester United contract terminated earlier this month, following a tumultuous relationship with club chiefs that only worsened when he made a number of controversial statements in a TV interview with Piers Morgan.
And now Ronaldo is said to have sensationally agreed a two-and-a-half year deal with Al Nassr — worth an eye-watering £172.9million per year — that will see him play until the age of 40, according to Spanish newspaper outlet Marca.
The Portugal international was pushing for a move away from Old Trafford in the summer, but did not get his wish as he was determined to play Champions League football.
The former Real Madrid star rejected a switch to Saudi last summer, but without any firm interest from Europe’s elite clubs, he looks set to now make the move.
Al-Nassr are one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia, having being crowned winners of the country’s top flight nine times, with their most recent triumph coming in 2019.
In both 2020 and 2021, Al-Nassr may not have won the league, but they did manage to win the Saudi Super Cup.
They also competed in the Club World Cup in 2000, where they came up against one of Ronaldo’s former clubs in Real Madrid.
The club are managed by Frenchman
Rudi Garcia, who has previously coached Roma, Marseille and Lyon.
The Saudi giants also currently have a few big-name stars of the past in the form of goalkeeper David Ospina, Brazilian midfielder Luiz Gustavo and Cameroon striker Vincent Aboubakar — who scored a contender for goal of the tournament at the Qatar World Cup earlier this week.
Another huge factor for Ronaldo might be that Al-Nassr’s backroom staff is predominantly made up of Portuguese, eight of the 12 members.
The same report has also suggested that no club from Europe or the MLS could afford to offer anywhere near such a luxurious offer.
Chelsea have also cooled their interest in Ronaldo while Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich denied talks earlier this week since his bombshell interview where he slammed United’s owner and manager Erik ten Hag.
Sportsmail exclusively revealed that Ronaldo would kiss goodbye to £16million after it was confirmed that he has left Manchester United with immediate effect earlier this month following his interview.
Ronaldo, however, remains focused for the time being on the World Cup in Qatar as he looks to help Portugal top their group when they face South Korea tomorrow afternoon.
The forward became the first man in history to score at five different World Cups, opening the scoring from the penalty spot in a thrilling 3-2 win over Ghana.