Newcastle among favourites to sign Cristiano Ronaldo amid Al-Nassr exit talk

Newcastle are among the bookmakers’ favorites to sign Cristiano Ronaldo amid reports the veteran is seeking an early departure from Al-Nassr.

The 38-year-old’s £175 million a year contract with Al-Nassr runs until 2025, a deal he signed after mutually agreeing to leave former club Manchester United in November last year.

Ronaldo has been in fine scoring form for the Saudi side since his arrival, scoring 12 goals in as many league appearances this season, including after just four minutes in a 3-0 home win against Al-Raed on Friday.

Al-Nassr are now second in the Saudi Pro League, trailing leaders Al-Ittihad by just three points, although he has played a game more, with five games remaining.

Still, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is reportedly looking to leave the club just months after his arrival, with former club Real Madrid reportedly willing to offer Ronaldo a non-playing ambassador role.

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle are among the favorites to sign the 38-year-old forward this summer

Spanish outlet El National said, “Florentino Perez guaranteed that [Ronaldo] will not be short of work at the Santiago Bernabeu. But of course he wouldn’t do it to be a player, because he thinks it’s a cycle that should be considered closed.’

Ronaldo’s partner Georgina Rodriguez is said to be longing for a return to Madrid, where the pair met, but a return to Spain is not the attacker’s only option.

According to Paddy powera move to the MLS is most likely the next step for Ronaldo, with a chance to join either side in the division at 6/4.

The Portugal international has been heavily linked with a US move in the past, with multiple parties reportedly fighting over his signature before sealing a move to Saudi Arabia.

Former team Sporting Lisbon are also in the mix at 2/1, with another shock return to Manchester United on 16/1 and a return to Real Madrid on 18/1.

Newcastle, who have all but secured Champions League football for next season, were nine points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool with five games to play, are 6/1 to sign the 38-year-old.

Third-placed Newcastle have all but secured a place in the Champions League next season

Mail Sport understand Eddie Howe will get a ‘huge’ increase in his transfer budget if they finish in the top four.

However, Newcastle will not be shattering their wage structure this summer despite targeting the likes of Declan Rice and Mason Mount.

Newcastle have previously been linked with a Ronaldo move, with reports emerging in January claiming the striker could join the Magpies as part of his Saudi contract.

However, Howe rejected those claims, saying, “We wish Cristiano the very best, but there’s no truth to that from our perspective.”