Al-Nassr president Musli Al-Muammar has debunked reports linking Cristiano Ronaldo to an imminent move to Al-Nassr.
There have been reports making the rounds that former Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo is on the verge of completing his mega £173million-a-year move to Al Nassr.
The news of Cristiano Ronaldo’s imminent move has been championed by a Spanish news outlet Marca.
Marca reported that the Portuguese legend is closing in on finalizing his move to Al Nassr.
Prior to the World Cup in Qatar, reports have emerged that Cristiano Ronaldo might be retained in the Middle East after the World Cup, with Al-Nassr on the trail of the beleaguered former Manchester United forward.
Cristiano Ronaldo also confirmed a money-spinning offer from a Saudi club in his controversial interview with Piers Morgan
He, however, did not mention the particular club interested in his services. Speculations were that two Saudi giants and arch-rivals – Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal – were the two clubs interested in signing him.
After the 2022 World Cup, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that one of the two clubs in Saudi Arabia, Al-Nassr, have submitted an offer for Cristiano Ronaldo.
On Monday, CBS Sports also reported that Cristiano Ronaldo is set for Al-Nassr medicals, and the club was hopeful of signing the five times Ballon d’Or winner.
Amid the rumors linking Cristiano Ronaldo to a potential move to Al-Nassr, Al-Nassr President Al-Muammar has come out to debunk the reports, claiming what has been written in Spain was ‘mostly a lie.’
‘[Reports on] Ronaldo are not right and most of what has been written and said in the [Spanish] media is a lie’, Al-Muammar said after Al-Nassr’s 2-2 draw with Al Hilal.
Pundits have dubbed Cristiano Ronaldo’s potential move to Al-Nassr as a mega offer. He is set to earn $75m-a-year (£62m) if he accepts the offer. Also, he can possibly earn up to £173million annually with image rights and other endorsements.
The move can see Ronaldo become the biggest star in Saudi Arabian football, given his pedigree, and he may likely be privileged to determine who joins the club and who is appointed manager.
Cristiano Ronaldo ended 2022 in the troughs. He struggled at Manchester United under new manager Erik Ten Hag.
The former Real Madrid star took to a controversial and explosive interview with Piers Morgan to air out his frustrations at Old Trafford since rejoining the team from Juventus in 2021.
In the interview, he slammed Manchester United owners for mismanaging the club. He also admitted his disdain for Erik Ten Hag.
After the interview, his contract at Manchester United was terminated. He headed into the 2022 World Cup with Portugal as a free agent.
Ronaldo clashed with former Portugal manager Fernandez Santos for consigning him to the bench against Switzerland in round 16 of the World Cup. He refused to train with Portugal substitutes, and threatened to quit the team in Qatar – a report he and Portugal FA later denied.
Portugal crashed out of the 2022 World Cup in the quarterfinal, losing 1-0 to Morocco. Ronaldo angrily left the pitch in tears after the game.
He is clubless, and has been spotted training in Real Madrid’s training facility as he prepares for offers from new clubs.
While he has been heavily linked with a potential move to Al-Nassr, Ronaldo is hopeful of staying in Europe to play Champions League football. However, if offers are not coming from European clubs as it is, he may likely join the Saudi club, where he may later retire from football.
