The hope of Cristiano Ronaldo playing in the UEFA Champions League is still intact despite his beleaguered move to Al-Nassr.
There is a shock clause in the Al-Nassr deal which will see him return to the Champions League football in Europe if all goes as planned.
Cristiano Ronaldo signed a mega two-and-half-year contract with Al-Nassr, which will see him earn a whooping £173million annually.
After Manchester United failed to qualify for the 2022 UEFA Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo asked to leave the club because he wanted to continue in European top flight.
He even opted to take a 30 percent paycut for any club playing in the Champions League that is ready to offer him a contract.
Despite vigorously pursuing a move, no European club made an offer for him, and he ended up playing Europa League football for the Red Devils.
He was equally frustrated at Manchester United after his call for an exit failed to go through with new manager Erik Ten Hag adding salts to the injury by leaving him off Manchester United’s starting lineup in most games.
The 37-year-old took to a controversial interview to accused Manchester United of betraying him. He slammed the club’s management for the poor state of the club, and admitted his disdain for new manager Erik Ten Hag.
Afterwards, his contract was terminated and he ended up being a free agent waiting for offers from clubs.
Despite having an offer from Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo was reportedly hopeful of still playing in the Champions League, and was hopeful of offers from European clubs.
After offers from European clubs were not forthcoming, he joined Al-Nassr as a free agent after ending his £500,000 weekly two years deal at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo admitted having turned down a mega offer from a Saudi club when he opted for Man United exit in the interview with Piers Morgan.
He would have preferred to stay in Europe and continue playing top-flight football, but had no offers from any European club before he settled for the offer from Al-Nassr.
Fans and pundits have proclaimed the end of Cristiano Ronaldo’s glittering career after he moved off the shores of Europe to the Saudi outfit. Now, all hope is not lost with the elite club competition in Europe still in sight for the Portuguese star.
According to MARCA, there is a shock clause in Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract with Al-Nassr which will see the five times Ballon d’Or winner return to Champions League football in Europe.
Cristiano will be allowed to join Newcastle on loan from Al-Nassr if the Premier League club finish in the top four this season.
The expected shock swoop is possible because Newcastle is owned by Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, who are also majority shareholders at Al-Nassr.
The Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund turned Newcastle into one of the richest clubs in the World after their £300million take over in 2021.
They are currently sitted third in the Premier League with 34 points from 17 matches , and are strong contenders for the Premier League top four this season.
If they qualify for Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo will likely return to Champions League football , where he is the all-time top-scorer with 140 goals, 11 goals better than Lionel Messi.
