Transfer Centre

Cristiano Ronaldo 'to complete Al-Nassr move by end of year'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 20 December 2022

Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly set to complete his transfer to Saudi Arabian giants Al-Nassr on a two-and-a-half year deal before the end of 2022.

Portugal attacker Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly poised to complete a lucrative move to Al-Nassr by the end of the calendar year.

The 37-year-old's brief second spell at Manchester United came to a bitter end last month following the publication of his explosive interview with Piers Morgan.

After admitting that he held no respect for Erik ten Hag and blasting the Glazer family among others, Ronaldo's contract at Old Trafford was terminated by mutual consent.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner's search for a new club was put on hold as he focused on Portugal's run at the 2022 World Cup, which ended to Morocco in the quarter-finals.

Since Portugal's elimination, the forward has been keeping himself fit at Real Madrid's training facilities ahead of his next career move, and Saudi Arabian giants Al-Nassr have been regarded as one of the favourites to sign him.

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo in action against Ghana at the World Cup on November 24, 2022 © Reuters

Al-Nassr manager Rudi Garcia has insisted that he would welcome the chance to coach Ronaldo, although the club's president Musalli Al Muammar has denied that talks have taken place.

"Cristiano was busy recently with the World Cup and I didn't expect him to negotiate with anyone. We will not speak about other players, I wish the best to Cristiano with any decision," Al Muammar told SSC Sports.

However, Marca reports that the 37-year-old will complete a transfer to Al-Nassr by the end of the year, and he will pen a two-and-a-half year deal until the summer of 2025.

The report adds that Ronaldo is currently staying in Dubai as he awaits his move to the Saudi giants, and his contract is worth a mammoth €200m (£175m), making him the highest-paid player in the world.

Saudi Arabian chiefs are also said to be hopeful that Ronaldo's signing will aid them in their bid to host the 2030 World Cup, and the striker has seemingly given up hope of playing in the Champions League again.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo during training on November 14, 2022 © Reuters

The former Real Madrid and Juventus man supposedly wanted to remain in Europe and continue to play in the continent's premier competition, but he had few suitors close to home.

Sporting Lisbon and Chelsea were briefly linked with a move for the veteran attacker, while Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain both ruled themselves out of the running.

Ronaldo failed to become a regular starter for Ten Hag after missing a large period of pre-season, scoring just three goals and setting up two more in 16 games for Man United this season.

The striker started all three of Portugal's World Cup group games, scoring once against Ghana, but he was benched for both of their knockout games with Switzerland and Morocco.

Ronaldo played 39 minutes as a substitute in Portugal's quarter-final defeat to Morocco, but he apparently has no plans to retire from international football.