Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr tabled a grandiose offer to Cristiano Ronaldo worth over £100 million per year, sources told Rob Dawson of ESPN.
The Portuguese forward, a free agent after the “mutual” termination of his Manchester United contract earlier this November, will wait until after the World Cup to decide the next step in his career, Dawson adds.
Al Nassr tendered a three-and-a-half-year deal for Ronaldo’s services. To sweeten the pot, the Saudi outfit is willing to pay the wages he would’ve earned during the final six months of his Manchester United contract, according to Dawson. Ronaldo had roughly £16 million remaining on his deal with the Red Devils before his now-infamous incendiary interview with Piers Morgan fractured his relationship with the club beyond repair.
The Portuguese captain, 37, could yet decide to sign with another European club. With his focus currently on the tournament in Qatar, it’ll take time for a clearer picture of interested suitors to emerge.
Portugal plays its final group-stage match against South Korea on Friday having already qualified for the last 16. Ronaldo’s involvement in the competition will thus extend into next week, at least.
Saudi Arabia is hopeful that having Ronaldo play in its domestic league would boost the country’s presence on the global stage as it bids to host the 2030 World Cup. Earlier this year, Lionel Messi signed a lucrative contract to become a tourism ambassador for the Middle Eastern nation.
