Cristiano Ronaldo is not being paid to promote Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2030 World Cup, his club have confirmed.
Reports had suggested part of the 37-year-old’s £175million-a-year Al-Nassr contract stipulated him to help the Middle Eastern nation land the hosting of the tournament.
An additional fee of £165m for specifically becoming an ambassador to the bid was also reported.
Saudi are plotting an ambitious bid to bring the World Cup back to the region after Qatar held the 2022 tournament, in a joint-proposal alongside Egypt and Greece.
The claims have caused consternation in Ronaldo’s homeland of Portugal, where they are preparing a World Cup bid alongside Spain.
But, on Tuesday evening, Al-Nassr clarified that no such agreement has been made with the player.
It read: “Al Nassr FC would like to clarify that contrary to news reports, Cristiano Ronaldo's contract with Al Nassr does not entail commitments to any World Cup bids.
“His main focus is on Al Nassr and to work with his teammates to help the club achieve success.”
Having been unveiled as an Al-Nassr player following his free agent move from Manchester United, Ronaldo is currently serving a two-game ban dished out by the FA amid his exit.
The striker is expected to make his first appearance in a friendly against Lionel Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain on January 19, as part of a Riyadh all-star side made up of Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal players.
