Cristiano Ronaldo is still open to offers.
Sunday Mirror Sport understands that the Portuguese superstar still hasn’t decided whether to accept a £173 million-a-year offer from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr - and that he will only determine his future after the World Cup.
Ronaldo, 37, was so desperate to cut his ties to Manchester United that he was happy for his contract to be torn up without any compensation package on his £500,000-a-week wages. And even though he has been looking to leave Old Trafford since the summer, he did so without already knowing his next destination.
Sources close to the former Sporting Lisbon, Real Madrid and Juventus striker have confirmed that Ronaldo is focussed on trying to help his country become world champions for the first time and wanted no distractions during the tournament.
There is still huge interest in him despite his fall from grace with United. And if he lifts the World Cup in Doha on December 18, his star will once again be in the ascendant.
United refused to countenance Ronaldo’s departure from Old Trafford because they were worried that he would join top-four rivals Chelsea. His reappearance in the Premier League in the new year is still United’s worst-case scenario.
But they are powerless to prevent that happening after a deal to cancel his contract was mutually agreed following his stinging criticism of the club and manager Erik ten Hag in a television interview with Piers Morgan.
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Chelsea are sure to be interested in Ronaldo as owner Todd Boehly looks to make a statement of intent by landing a player who has huge commercial value.
Sporting Lisbon want to take him ‘home’, 19 years after he moved to United for the first time in a £12.25 million deal. Sporting can’t offer Ronaldo the Champions League football he craves after they were knocked out in their final group game.
But after a successful World Cup with Portugal, his return would be a huge coup. Ronaldo made history when he became the first player to score in five World Cup tournaments as Portugal opened their bid for glory by beating Ghana 3-2.
It was his 118th goal for his country - and he insisted he had scored again when he rose to meet Bruno Fernandes ’ cross in the 2-0 victory over Uruguay.
Officials ruled that Ronaldo did not get a touch on the ball and the goal was awarded to Fernandes. Al-Nassr want Ronaldo to be the poster boy for Saudi Arabia.
But the country’s poor human rights record would bring a storm of criticism and tarnish his image as one of the game’s greatest players. Ronaldo will have seen the huge backlash against FIFA’s decision to award the World Cup to Qatar.
And while there is a fabulous fortune to be made in the desert, Ronaldo has previously insisted that he can play at the highest level into his 40s.
One of the key questions Ronaldo will ask himself once the World Cup is over is whether playing in the Saudi Professional League would be a fitting end to his stellar career.
