Cristiano Ronaldo, who previously played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, has agreed to join Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr on a two-and-a-half-year contract.
The 37-year-old Portuguese player signed the contract on Friday, which is expected to be worth more than 200 million euros and will last until June 2025. After his contract with Manchester United was mutually terminated, the forward became a free agent.
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Ronaldo will reportedly earn more than £177 million per year, making him the highest-paid footballer in history.
“I’m eager to experience a new football league in a different country,” says the 37-year-old.
Ronaldo added: “I am fortunate that I have won everything I set out to win in European football and feel now that this is the right moment to share my experience in Asia.”
The signing was described as “history in the making” by Al Nassr, the nine-time Saudi Pro League champions.
The club said it would “inspire our league, nation and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves”.
Ronaldo turned down a £305 million deal to join another Saudi club, Al Hilal, in the summer because he was happy at United.
Earlier in November, the striker told Piers Morgan for TalkTV that he felt “betrayed” by United, did not respect manager Erik ten Hag, and was being forced out of the club.
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Ronaldo, who scored 145 goals in 346 appearances for United, will return to Old Trafford in August 2021, 11 years after leaving to join Real Madrid.
He had just over seven months remaining on his £500,000-a-week contract with United but his immediate exit was “mutually agreed”.
