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Cristiano Ronaldo ‘agrees a £173 MILLION a year contract, by far the biggest in football, with Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia – and is about to sign’ after Europe’s top clubs voted him after Manchester United’s departure had avoided
Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly agreed a £172.9 million a year contract with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
The 37-year-old had his contract with Manchester United terminated earlier this month after a tumultuous relationship with club chiefs that only worsened when he made some controversial statements in a TV interview with Piers Morgan.
And now Ronaldo has sensationally agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Al Nassr – worth an eye-watering £172.9 million a year – in which he will play until the age of 40, according to Spanish newspaper outlet Marca.
The Portugal international pushed for an exit from Old Trafford in the summer but was not granted his wish as he was determined to play Champions League football.
The former Real Madrid star turned down a move to Saudi Arabia last summer, but without any serious interest from Europe’s elite clubs, he now looks set to make the move.
Al-Nassr are one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia, having been crowned winners of the country’s top flight nine times, with their most recent victory coming in 2019.
Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly agreed a £172.9 million a year deal with Saudi side Al Nassr
Al-Nassr did not win the league in both 2020 and 2021, but they did manage to win the Saudi Super Cup.
They also took part in the 2000 Club World Cup, taking on one of Ronaldo’s former clubs in Real Madrid.
The club is led by Frenchman Rudi Garcia, who previously coached Roma, Marseille and Lyon.
The Saudi giants also currently have some big names from the past in the form of goalkeeper David Ospina, Brazilian midfielder Luiz Gustavo and Cameroon striker Vincent Aboubakar.
Ronaldo remains focused on helping Portugal top their group at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
Another big factor for Ronaldo could be that Al-Nassr’s backroom staff is mostly Portuguese, eight of the 12 members.
The same report also suggested that no club from Europe or the MLS could afford to come close to such a luxury offer.
Chelsea have also cooled their interest in Ronaldo, while Bundesliga giant Bayern Munich earlier this week denied talks since his bombshell interview in which he berated United owner and manager Erik ten Hag.
Ronaldo, however, remains focused on the World Cup in Qatar for now, as he aims to help Portugal top their group when they face South Korea on Friday afternoon.
The striker became the first man in history to score in five different World Cups and opened the scoring from the penalty spot in a thrilling 3-2 win over Ghana.
He then thought he had tied Eusebio’s record of nine goals in the World Cup final for Portugal as they beat Uruguay 2–0 in their second group game.
The opening goal was instead awarded to his former Manchester United teammate Bruno Fernandes, denying him another record.
One he will be determined to break at the big tournament in Qatar as it could prove to be his last World Cup.
The 37-year-old attacker’s contract with Manchester United was terminated earlier this month