Cristiano Ronaldo, who is currently on his international duty with Portugal for the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and also a free-agent, has signed for Saudi Arabia side Al Nassr, according to Spanish outlet MARCA. Early reports had suggested that the 37-year-old has agreed a deal in principle with the Saudi outfit, but MARCA now claims that the contracts have been signed between the two parties in Qatar.
The five-time Ballon d’ Or winner had to bring and abrupt end to his second Manchester United spell, after agreeing a mutual contract termination with the club. His explosive interview with Piers Morgan, wherein he went berserk against the Red Devils, accusing them of “betraying” him and showing no improvement since Sir Alex Ferguson left, and also hit out at Erik ten Hag for “not respecting” him was the last straw between the club and their No.7, who kicked the ball at the World Cup as a free agent.
Cristiano Ronaldo has already received €100 million as ‘token’ from Al Nassr
After his contract termination with United, Cristiano Ronaldo was expected to remain fully focused with Portugal on the World Cup, which could also be his last ever appearance at the tournament. Moreover, reports had furled up that his Portugal teammates were ‘unhappy’ with him for the timing of his interview, which attracted unnecessary attention on the team as they faced questions regarding their captain’s situation only in the press conferences.
Add to it, Ronaldo’s on field output too seems to have dealt with a blow ever since that interview controversy, after he managed only 1 goal in 3 games for Portugal during the group stages. Furthermore, his dismal performance against South Korea in the penultimate group game was too much to tolerate for Portugal manager Fernando Santos, who took his captain off with almost half-an-hour to be played.
However, MARCA claims the former Real Madrid forward has now his future sorted. A host of European giants had reportedly knocked on his door for a move in January, with Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Napoli the frontrunners. But the Saudis, who seem to be on the trail of the global superstar since the summer, have finally gotten their man. As it was confirmed by multiple sources last week, that Ronaldo has a €500 million package of two-and-a-half-years on the table from Al Nassr, MARCA have revealed that the EURO 2016 champion has accepted it.
The Spanish outlet further adds that contracts and legal documents have signed between Al Nassr and the Portuguese captain, after the Saudi side paid him his six months’ salary of €100 in advance as ‘token’. As a result, the five-time Champions League winner will directly head to Saudi Arabia after the World Cup, where he will ply his trade from January 1 of the next year. Furthermore, image rights have also been agreed between the two, with Ronaldo now set to earn more than PSG poster boys Kylian Mabppe, Lionel Messi and Neymar from those rights.
There is no need to add separately that this humongous €500 million deal will make Cristiano Ronaldo the highest paid athlete in the world, also bringing and end to his European expedition which spanned over 19-and-a-half-years. However, this is a huge breakthrough for the Al Nassr, as it was reported back in summer that a Saudi club is heavily interested in signing Ronaldo, who wanted to leave United at that time.
It was reported back then that an offer of €350 was waiting for him, which was confirmed by the player himself during the Piers Morgan interview. Although he rejected the lure at that time, Al Nassr returned with almost double the money and have succeeded as well. Ronaldo will now catch-up with former Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina and Ghana striker Vincent Aboubakar at Al Nassr, who are coached by former Roma, Marseille and Lyon manager Rudi Garcia.