Portuguese icon reportedly back on track for lucrative extension after putting talks on hold following Asian Champions League exit
Cristiano Ronaldo appears to have performed a dramatic U-turn over his Al-Nassr future, with reports suggesting the Portuguese superstar has reached an agreement for a new £167 million-per-year contract after initially stalling on the deal following the club’s disappointing season.
The 40-year-old forward, whose current contract expires on June 30, 2025, had thrown his future into doubt just weeks ago when he posted a cryptic message on social media stating “this chapter is over” after Al-Nassr’s failure to qualify for the AFC Champions League.
Initial Deal Put on Hold
Sources close to the situation revealed to TEAMtalk that Ronaldo and Al-Nassr had reached a verbal agreement to extend his stay until 2026, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner set to earn a staggering €200m (£169m) next season.
However, the deal was thrown into serious doubt after Al-Nassr’s painful exit from the Asian Champions League at the hands of Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale. The defeat prompted Ronaldo to ask for the contract negotiations to be put on hold as he questioned the club’s sporting ambitions.
At the time, Ronaldo was reportedly demanding firm assurances over the club’s project and was “no longer fully convinced” by what lay ahead at Al-Nassr after a trophyless season that saw them finish third in the Saudi Pro League.
The U-Turn
Now, according to multiple reports, the Manchester United and Real Madrid legend has performed a shock U-turn and is set to commit his future to the Saudi club after receiving the guarantees he sought about their ambitions.
The new deal would see Ronaldo earn approximately £167 million per year (€200m), maintaining his status as the world’s highest-paid footballer. Breaking down the astronomical figures:
- £13.9 million per month
- £3.2 million per week
- £458,000 per day
Ownership Stake Sweetener
Beyond the eye-watering salary, reports suggest Ronaldo will also receive a minority ownership stake in Al-Nassr, signifying his importance to the Saudi Pro League project and potentially setting him up for a post-playing career role at the club.
This aligns with comments Ronaldo made at the Globe Soccer Awards in December, where he hinted at ownership ambitions: “I’m not a coach. I’m never going to be a coach, president of the club? No. Maybe the owner of the club. If I will be the owner of the club, I will make things clear and adjust what I think is bad there.”
Competition for Signature
The U-turn comes after Al-Nassr sporting director Fernando Hierro publicly confirmed the club was negotiating with Ronaldo over a new deal, while acknowledging “many clubs are interested in signing him.
Reports had suggested Ronaldo received tempting offers from several clubs, including:
- An unnamed Brazilian club offering him the chance to play in the 2025 Club World Cup
- Interest from MLS sides
- Potential moves to rival Saudi clubs
However, the Portuguese icon appears to have been convinced to remain in Riyadh after the club promised to strengthen the squad around him, as evidenced by the surprise January signing of Colombian striker Jhon Duran from Aston Villa.
Chasing 1,000 Goals
The contract extension would keep Ronaldo playing until at least the summer of 2026, when he will be 41 years old. This timeline would give him the opportunity to:
- Continue his pursuit of 1,000 career goals (he currently has 933)
- Potentially participate in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada
- Win the Saudi Pro League title that has eluded him so far
Trophy Drought Continues
Despite scoring 99 goals in 105 appearances for Al-Nassr, Ronaldo’s trophy cabinet has remained relatively bare in Saudi Arabia. The club has won only the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023 since his arrival, missing out on the league title in both of his full seasons.
This lack of silverware was reportedly a major factor in Ronaldo’s initial hesitation to commit his future to the club, with the veteran forward making it clear he has no intention of retiring and wants to continue winning trophies.
Final Chapter
While the deal is yet to be officially announced, with Hierro stating “God willing, we will find a solution,” all signs point to Ronaldo extending his stay in Saudi Arabia for at least another season.
For a player who declared himself “the most complete player to have existed,” the lucrative new contract represents both a financial windfall and an opportunity to cement his legacy as the transformative figure who elevated Saudi Arabian football onto the global stage.
As Ronaldo himself posted after seemingly hinting at an exit: “The story? Still being written.”
Image credit: Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Al Nassr FC against Persepolis, September 2023 by Mehrdad Esfahani / Student News Agency, licensed under CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
