Former Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo is rumored to have received a massive transfer offer from Saudi club Al-Nassr as he looks for his next club.
The Portuguese only recently left Old Trafford, with the Red Devils agreeing to terminate the balance of his contract by mutual consent following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan. “Following negotiations with Manchester United, we have mutually agreed to finish our contract early,” the 37-year-old said in a statement.
“I love Manchester United and I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge. I wish the team every success for the remainder of the season and for the future.”
His exit means that for the first time in his career, Ronaldo is a free agent. He will no doubt be aiming to attract the advances of potential employers throughout the remainder of the World Cup in Qatar.
It looks like he has already done so, with rumors claiming that a large offer has already been made to his agent, Jorge Mendes. According to CBS, Saudi club Al-Nassr has offered him a three-year contract, allowing him to play into his early 40s.
Ronaldo is expected to be more prepared to venture outside of Europe following the World Cup in Qatar, with the club had submitted a $75 million (£62 million) annual offer. That means Ronaldo could earn more than £186 million over the course of the contract.
Contact between Al-Nassr and his representatives reportedly began in the summer when he submitted his original request to leave Manchester United, and talks are now said to be relatively advanced.’ It is now up to Ronaldo to decide whether to accept the present offer – the only one on the table – or to wait for more interest.
In the summer, a slew of clubs was connected with a move for his signature, including Napoli, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, and Bayern Munich.
A large offer from an undisclosed Saudi Arabian club was also made, however it is unclear whether this is the same as his most recent potential move.
Ronaldo was obliged to stay at Old Trafford after none of the interested teams made a move. Things began to go awry for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner almost immediately, with United having dropped to the second choice to lead the line under Erik ten Hag
Prior to the World Cup, he had only made ten starts for the Red Devils, the great majority of which came in the Europa League, and had only scored three goals.
He had previously received a suspension prior to his fiery interview for refusing to come on as a substitute in a Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur. His last appearance for Manchester United came in a 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa, which he captained.
