Ronaldo ‘moves step closer’ to £344m Saudi deal with Messi set for MLS

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to put pen to paper on the most lucrative contract in football history as the Portuguese superstar moves a step closer to his move to Saudi Arabia, according to reports. The former Manchester United star is a free agent after agreeing to a mutual termination with the club and is now set to sign a deal with Al Nassr that will see him earn an eye-watering £344million across two-and-a-half years.

The 37-year-old left the Red Devils after agreeing to forgo the rest of his £12m wages that he was due to earn in the final year of his contract at Old Trafford so that he could find a new club.

And it appears his agent Jorge Mendes has found a club willing to take the veteran striker, with Saudi Arabian outfit Al Nassr offering Ronaldo a mega deal until 2025 worth a total £344m.

That is according to Spanish outlet Marca, who claim Ronaldo is ‘getting close’ to signing the deal that will make him the highest-paid athlete in sport history. The lucrative deal will include a base salary of £173m-a-year (€200m), which equates to a whopping £3.3m-a-week before tax.

Ronaldo turned down the chance to head to Saudi Arabia in the summer as he searched for a club playing in the Champions League, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner believing he could still play at the highest level.

But with a lack of clubs willing to take on his exorbitant wages, in addition to the extra baggage that comes with signing one of the world’s greatest goalscorers, Ronaldo struggled to find any takers – with his boyhood club Sporting Lisbon also closing the door on a return.

It now seems as if Ronaldo is on his way to begin a new adventure in the Middle East with Al Nassr, who are currently coached by ex-Marseille manager Rudi Garcia, with the deal a watershed moment for the Saudi Arabian league.

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