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Al-Hilal confirms their interest in Cristiano Ronaldo was genuine after they offered the Manchester United star a stunning £210m deal – and held talks in the hopes of having their transfer ban lifted… before being forced back to pull
- Al-Hilal has confirmed they have made a huge offer for attacker Cristiano Ronaldo
- The 37-year-old announced his intention to leave Manchester United this summer
- Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia was the only club to make a move for the Portuguese
- The Riyadh-based team offered superstar Ronaldo a massive £210 million contract
- And the club president claims the move failed only because of a transfer ban
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Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal was only due to a transfer ban, according to club president Fahad ben Nafel.
Sports post reported on the day of the transfer deadline that the Riyadh-based team was the only one to make an offer for the Manchester United star after announcing that they would leave this summer due to their lack of Champions League football.
And Ben Nafel, who approved a two-year contract worth £2million a week and £210million in total plus a £25million transfer fee, insisted the Portuguese attacker was “in principle” happy with the move, despite reports that he felt it was a step back and his desire to play in the Champions League.
Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal only fell through due to a transfer ban, according to club president Fahad ben Nafel’s claims
Ronaldo declared his desire to leave this summer due to their lack of Champions League football
He told the Thamanya YouTube broadcaster: ‘Yes, we have negotiated with Ronaldo. The problem was not in the money or the principle.
“Al-Hilal can bring in the stars of the world, but it was in the decision of the Sports Arbitration Center that prevented us from registering the players.
“We have not stopped negotiating with the players despite the decision to suspend, but we have postponed entering the final phase of the negotiations until the ban was lifted.”
Al Hilal, led by Ramon Diaz (left), was the only club to make a formal offer to Ronaldo
The offer would have made 37-year-old Ronaldo, whose only club goal so far this season came against Moldovan minnow Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League, the highest paid footballer in the world.
Al-Hilal was banned from transfer in May after their midfielder Mohamed Kanno changed his mind at the last minute about a move to Al-Nassr, with a contract already signed with both clubs.
Al-Hilal, led by Ramon Diaz, has included former West Bromwich Albion attacking midfielder Matheus Pereira, former Atletico Madrid forward Luciano Vietto, Malian striker Moussa Marega and Nigerian forward Odion Ighalo – once of United – on their roster.
The Portuguese veteran played 90 minutes when his team lost 1-0 to Spain on Tuesday evening
After missing United’s pre-season tour due to a ‘family problem’, Ten Hag is slowly reintegrating Ronaldo back into the team.
United initially paid Juventus £12.85 million to bring Ronaldo back to Old Trafford last summer, with the player signing a two-year deal with the option of a third.
Despite Ronaldo’s 24 goals in all competitions, United had a dismal season and could only qualify for the Europa League by finishing sixth in the Premier League.
The Portuguese star told the club he wanted to leave for a new challenge, but the list of potential candidates was short. He was linked with the likes of Atlético Madrid, Bayern Munich and Chelsea during the transfer window, but a transfer never materialized.