Posted on 11/30/2022 10:27:58 AM PST by nickcarraway
Cristiano Ronaldo has a lucrative offer to move to Saudi Arabia on the table after his departure from Manchester United, but the Portugal forward is set to wait until after the World Cup before deciding on his next move, sources have told ESPN.
Al-Nassr are willing to offer him a 3½-year contract worth more than $119 million (£100m) a year.
Sources have also told ESPN that as part of the agreement, Al-Nassr have indicated they would be willing to compensate Ronaldo for the wages he would have earned had he seen out the last six months of his contract at Man United -- around $19m (£16m).
Ronaldo, 37, has asked his representatives to be kept out of negotiations over his future in club football while he is in Qatar, but sources have told ESPN that talks over a move to Al-Nassr have taken place.
The Portugal captain left Old Trafford without a payoff after agreeing a "mutual" termination of his contract following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan during which he criticised the club and manager Erik ten Hag.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, are hopeful that Ronaldo's presence in their domestic league would help a bid to host the 2030 World Cup and would be keen for the former Real Madrid and Juventus forward to work as an ambassador for the country.
Ronaldo is still open to the idea of staying in Europe and will wait for a clearer picture about which clubs are interested before making a final decision on his future.
Portugal play their final Group H game against South Korea on Friday. They have already qualified for the knockout rounds and will face a team from Group G -- one of Brazil, Cameroon, Switzerland or Serbia -- in the last 16 next week.
Sources have told ESPN that Portugal are monitoring Ronaldo's fitness ahead of the game against South Korea after he picked up a foot injury during the 2-0 win over Uruguay on Monday.
Right on.
You have to be very careful dealing with the House of Saud, they are all Wahhabists at heart, and buying a person is no more than buying a thing, and not only that, but it gives Islam dominion over that thing permanently.
LIV Soccer?
That's over 3 years, and is roughly what he makes now in Europe. So he has other options to make that same money and remain high profile worldwide, as opposed to being a regional commodity playing in the Middle East.
I thought a lesser league would offer players substantially more to come there, in order to get attention? Doesn’t MLS pay players more, since it’s a less prestigious league? Has any European league star gone to Saudi League?
The latest is that the offer is about $200 million per year, but that includes sponsorships. THAT may be too much to turn down, since he gets about $115m currently and is past his prime. MLS can't come close to that level. David Beckham was making about $50 million per year when he came to MLS. If Ronaldo and Messi came to MLS in 2023 many teams would have to move their games to local NFL stadiums to fit the demand. Other star players have gone to the Middle East to end their careers, but Ronaldo (and Messi) are on a whole different level of sporting fame internationally.
Would be a convincing offer if it included tax fraud and rape charges immunity, which is standing Saudi law.
Love Ronaldo, but he’s had his troubles.
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