I would think the Saudi League is equivalent to Double-A baseball in soccer terms. Sure they have money to throw around, but any good player wants to be in the EPL, or La Liga, or the Bundesleague. Much better exposure. Who cares if Riyadh beats Dhahran?! As for his future in Europe, he is 37 and nothing can change that. He could probably get a small fortune from an MLS team though.
And for whatever reasons, the Saudis are treated as pariahs here in Western media, whereas the CCP, guilty of much more egregious human rights violations on a daily basis, gets a free pass. So he would have to be prepared for some scathing criticism from TPTB. Maybe he doesn’t give a damn I don’t know....
In 2022, he makes roughly $60 million on field and $55 million off field, for a total compensation around $115 million per year. I doubt he'll take the Saudi offer as it's a garbage league and he doesn't need the money ($500 million net worth). He can probably get near the same again in Europe, although none of the big teams are willing to offer him a large contract at his advanced playing age and the disruptions it can cause their team (he can't even get into the Manchester United starting 11). Potential move to the US' MLS league, although there'd need to be a LARGE off-field package. Lionel Messi, the other world great, is also rumored to be heading to MLS to play for Inter Miami.
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?
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.