Cristiano Ronaldo close to signing for Saudi club Al Nassr - Marca
Marca said on Thursday an agreement has been reached and the deal could be penned within the next hours, as soon as Ronaldo departs for Riyadh. The report said that the contract would land the former Manchester United and Real Madrid great Ronaldo €200 million ($212 million) per year during his two and a half years as an Al Nassr player, and even more in the ensuing ambassador role.
- Sports
- DPA
- Published Date: 03:44 | 22 December 2022
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to sign for Saudi Arabia club Al Nassr in a rich seven-year deal under which he is to play for them until 2025 and then become an ambassador to help Saudi Arabia co-host the 2030 World Cup, according to Spanish sports paper Marca.
Marca said on Thursday an agreement has been reached and the deal could be penned within the next hours, as soon as Ronaldo departs for Riyadh.
The report said that the contract would land the former Manchester United and Real Madrid great Ronaldo €200 million ($212 million) per year during his two and a half years as an Al Nassr player, and even more in the ensuing ambassador role.
Saudi Arabia is aiming for the 2030 World Cup in a joint bid with Egypt and Greece.
Ronaldo, 37, is without a club since his United contract was terminated by mutual agreement last month after he had voiced sharp criticism about the club and its manager Erik ten Hag.
He has been linked with Al Nassr for a while but dismissed an agreement during the World Cup where he was not a starter in Portugal's final two games in the last 16 and quarter-finals.
English and Portuguese reports said he had been aiming to continue playing at the highest level, including Champions League football.
Ronaldo has been keeping fit in Madrid at former club Real, to which Marca is close.
The daily said the breakthrough with Al Nassr came last week and that the Saudi club was aiming to part ways with three players to have additional funds available for Ronaldo's huge salary.
Saudi Arabia football federation president Yasser Al-Misehal had told Marca recently that "we would love to have this player in our League.
"We want to surprise by having more top players from anywhere in the world. As a federation, we would be more than happy. We would like to bring him here."
Marca said on Thursday an agreement has been reached and the deal could be penned within the next hours, as soon as Ronaldo departs for Riyadh.
The report said that the contract would land the former Manchester United and Real Madrid great Ronaldo €200 million ($212 million) per year during his two and a half years as an Al Nassr player, and even more in the ensuing ambassador role.
Saudi Arabia is aiming for the 2030 World Cup in a joint bid with Egypt and Greece.
Ronaldo, 37, is without a club since his United contract was terminated by mutual agreement last month after he had voiced sharp criticism about the club and its manager Erik ten Hag.
He has been linked with Al Nassr for a while but dismissed an agreement during the World Cup where he was not a starter in Portugal's final two games in the last 16 and quarter-finals.
English and Portuguese reports said he had been aiming to continue playing at the highest level, including Champions League football.
Ronaldo has been keeping fit in Madrid at former club Real, to which Marca is close.
The daily said the breakthrough with Al Nassr came last week and that the Saudi club was aiming to part ways with three players to have additional funds available for Ronaldo's huge salary.
Saudi Arabia football federation president Yasser Al-Misehal had told Marca recently that "we would love to have this player in our League.
"We want to surprise by having more top players from anywhere in the world. As a federation, we would be more than happy. We would like to bring him here."
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