Cristiano Ronaldo ‘is on the brink of signing a massive £175 million-a-year deal with Al-Nassr and Saudi Arabia, fresh reports from Spain today claim.
The agreement is expected to run for seven years, with the Portuguese superstar set to play for two-and-a-half years before taking up an ambassadorial role and his payment will increase over time.
Ronaldo, 37, has been searching for a new home since being axed by Manchester United following his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan before the World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo is on the brink of signing with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr
He shared a video of himself in the gym in Dubai while he waits for the deal to be confirmed
Al-Nassr are also preparing to cut three players to free up enough room financially to sign the veteran forward.
Talks have been ongoing for some time but a breakthrough was made in the last week.
Ronaldo was linked with the Saudi Arabian club before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but refused to comment as he was focused on the tournament.
He and his family are said to be waiting in Dubai until the deal – which includes advertising agreements – is confirmed.
The Portugal international 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.
A move to the Saudi club will confirm an end to Ronaldo playing at the elite level, at least out of international windows.
His future with the national side is also in question, following his reduced role at the World Cup, where Portugal exited against Morocco at the quarter-final stage.
Fernando Santos, who has since been sacked, opted to start Ronaldo from the bench during the knockout games and he was unable to make a meaningful impact in Qatar.
Al-Nassr and Saudi Arabia will still regard his signing as a major coup for the club and country given his profile, even if there appears to be a decline in his ability on the pitch.
The club are currently managed by Frenchman Rudi Garcia, who has previously coached Roma, Marseille and Lyon. They also play in a 25,000-seater stadium.
His old club United, who beat Burnley 2-0 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, published a brief 81-word farewell to Ronaldo in the matchday programme.
It read: ‘The Portuguese superstar scored 145 goals across two spells and 436 appearances, and helped us win three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, two League Cups, the Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup. Ronaldo was also crowned Ballon d’Or winner in 2008.
‘In a statement on November 22, the club put on record its gratitude for Cristiano’s immense contribution and wished him and his family well for the future.’
