Ronaldo finalizes record decision in Saudi Arabia – RT Sport News
The Portuguese star left Manchester United in acrimonious circumstances last month
Cristiano Ronaldo has become the highest paid footballer in history after signing a bumper deal with Saudi side Al Nassr until 2025.
The Portuguese, who turns 38 in February, was a free agent after leaving Manchester United by mutual decision within days of delivering a scathing assessment of the English football club in an interview with British TV host Piers Morgan.
It has been reported that Ronaldo’s contract is the biggest contract ever signed by a professional footballer at around $214 million per year.
Ronaldo said at the end of the move that he was « eager to discover a new football league in a different country”.
« I’m lucky to have won everything I wanted to win in European football and now feel like the right time to share my experience in Asia, » he added.
Announcing the deal, nine-time Saudi Pro League champion Al Nassr said he expected Ronaldo’s influence to give football a significant boost in the region.
« The story in the making“, they wrote on social networks.
« This is a signing that will not only inspire our club to achieve even greater success, but will also inspire our league, our nation and future generations, boys and girls, to be the best version of themselves..”
The deal comes several months after Ronaldo turned down a big offer from another Saudi side, Al Hilal, with the player saying he preferred to stay in European football.
Here is Cristiano Ronaldo with the Al Nassr jersey after contract signed until June 2025 🚨🇵🇹🇸🇦 #Ronaldo▫️ Agreement valid for two and a half years;▫️ The total salary will be close to 200 million euros per year, but this includes the commercial agreement. This is the highest salary ever recorded in football. pic.twitter.com/ZnOg8lY6Wb
— Fabrice Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 30, 2022
It has been reported that Ronaldo and his agent, Jorge Mendes, have canvassed several top European clubs to gauge their interest in signing Ronaldo, but none of their preferred options were willing to accept the veteran striker’s massive salary demands. .
He left Manchester United with six months remaining on his £500,000-a-week ($605,000) contract, and a day later was suspended two games from domestic club competitions for slamming a phone with his hand of a young fan leaving the pitch after United’s defeat to Everton in April.
It is understood that this suspension will delay his debut for Al Nassr.
Ronaldo was last seen at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar where he became the first man to score in five World Cups in Portugal’s game against Ghana, before losing his place in the squad starting point before the elimination of his team by Morocco.
rt
