Cristiano Ronaldo COMPLETES £173m-a-year transfer to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia as he becomes highest-paid sportsman EVER

CRISTIANO RONALDO has signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr to become the highest-paid sportsperson EVER.

The Portuguese superstar – who has been a free agent since his Manchester United contract was ripped up last month – will earn £173MILLION a year in the Middle East.

The full deal is believed to run over seven years in total – with Ronaldo taking on an ambassadorial role once he hangs up his boots.

That means Ronaldo would pocket as much as £1.2BILLION over the course of the contract.

Ronaldo said: “I’m thrilled for new experience in a different league and a different country.

“The vision that Al Nassr has is very inspiring. I am very excited to join my team-mates, to help the team to achieve more success.”

Al Nassr added in a statement: “History in the making.

“This is a signing that will not only inspire our club to achieve even greater success but inspire our league, our nation and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves.

“Welcome @Cristiano to your new home.”

Ronaldo is understood to have undergone the first part of his medical and will complete the second stage in Riyadh in the coming days.

Ronaldo had been heavily linked with a move to Saudi ever since his Man Utd deal was terminated following an explosive interview with Piers Morgan.

Ronaldo initially distanced himself from a move to the Middle East as he wanted play in the Champions League this season.

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And during his interview with Morgan, Ronaldo confirmed he had previously turned down £3m per week to play in Saudi.

When pressed on how difficult it was to turn down a figure that high, he then added: “It’s hard. It’s hard. But in the same way, I thought that I was very happy here; that I [am] still capable to score goals and make people happy.

“I still believe that I can score many many goals and help the team because I still believe that I’m still good and capable to help national team – even Manchester United.

“But if you don’t feel around you that the energy’s on your side, it’s difficult. Of course, the criticism is gonna exists all the time. Ah he’s 37, he’s not the same.

“But I want to see if some guy of my age maintain the level that I show. You’re not gonna teach me that. Nobody is gonna teach me that.”

However, following a challenging World Cup which saw Ronaldo dropped to the bench by Portugal for their shock exit to Morocco, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has changed his mind.

Al Nassr, who have also been linked with a move for Ronaldo’s ex-Real Madrid team-mate Sergio Ramos, currently sit second in the Saudi Pro League table after seven wins from their opening 10 games.

And Ronaldo will be ready to hit the ground running having returned to training with former club Real Madrid to stay fit while he sorted his future.

Ronaldo’s last match came as a second-half substitute in Portugal’s quarter-final defeat to Morocco in Qatar.

Despite his 38th birthday coming up in January, he seems set to continue with the national team until Euro 2024.

That is despite a difficult season so far – with just three goals for United in 16 appearances.

He then managed just one more at the World Cup before being dropped for the knockout stages.

But Ronaldo’s form was positive earlier this year when he bagged a number of goals to finish with a tally of 24 for the 2021/22 campaign.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk