Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly agreed a record-breaking £172.9 million-a-year contract with Saudi Arabian outfit, Al Nassr.
The 37-year-old striker is now a free agent after Manchester United confirmed that he has left the club with immediate effect. Ronaldo had already been heavily linked with an exit from Old Trafford on a number of occasions this season but a revealing TV interview with Piers Morgan was the final straw.
United were said to be 'furious' after the TV attack of the club caught them by surprise, with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner claiming that he felt betrayed. United sought legal advice and the Portuguese star was subsequently allowed to leave the club.
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Plenty of teams - including the likes of Chelsea - have been linked with the superstar's signature, and now, as per Marca, via the Daily Mail, Ronaldo has reportedly agreed a record-breaking £172.9million-a-year contract with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. The move will see him play until at least the age of 40.
However, the report adds that sources close to the former United star insist no deal has been signed and that Ronaldo remains focused on the World Cup with his country.
Al-Nassr are one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia, having being crowned winners of the country's top flight nine times, with their most recent triumph coming in 2019. Nevertheless, if he does complete a move to the middle east, one would have to assume it's entirely money motivated.
Ronaldo is still capable of playing at a top club in Europe, or even venturing overseas to the MLS. That being said, even some of the richest clubs in the world can't compete with the offer Al Nassr have reportedly made.
In fact, the highest-paid MLS player of all time is Lorenzo Insigne of Toronto FC. The Italian is collecting just under $15million per year (£12.5million), with an average of $288,462 (£240,170) per week.
Of course, with the league on the rise, that figure is only likely to increase in the years to come. But Ronaldo - as well as seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi, who has also been linked with a transfer to the MLS in recent weeks - will be demanding astronomical weekly fees. As things stand, it doesn't look like North American teams can compete with middle eastern clubs financially.
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