Cristiano Ronaldo will see a two-and-a-half-year deal with Al Nasr.A source at the Saudi club told ESPN that Ronaldo will join Newcastle on loan if he plays in the Champions League next season. He said reports of clauses allowing him to move to United were “fake”.
Ronaldo, who turns 38 on February 5, will be officially unveiled as an Al Nasr player at the club’s Mrsool Park stadium on Tuesday at 7pm local time (11am ET).
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The Portuguese captain has become football’s highest-paid player after agreeing to a $75 million a year deal after mutually ending his Manchester United contract after a string of disciplinary issues at the club.
Reports from Spain, who sought to leave United in the summer to sign for a Champions League-qualified side, said Ronaldo only agreed to play for Al Nasr, his contract allowing him to leave. Newcastle’s majority owner is Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The report also erroneously claimed that al-Nasr was also owned by the PIF.
Newcastle sources have dismissed suggestions that the club would have the option to sign Ronaldo if they qualify for the Champions League, but Al Nasr sources told ESPN the story was ‘all fake’. said.
Al-Nasr are set to face Al-Teye at home on Thursday, but sources say Ronaldo’s debut is most likely an away game against Riyadh rivals Al-Shabaab on 14 January. .