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Cristiano Ronaldo. Lukasz Skwiot/Cyfrasport

Ronaldo reportedly offered 'mammoth contract' by Saudi Arabian club

Uncertainty reigns over the 37-year-old’s club future as he focuses on the World Cup.

CRISTIANO RONALDO HAS been offered a “mammoth contract” by Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, it’s being widely reported.

A free agent since his inharmonious Manchester United exit earlier this month, the 37-year-old is on the hunt for a new club.

The Daily Star, via American broadcaster CBS Sports, says Al Nassr have offered the Portugal international a three-year deal worth a whopping £186million (€215,422,410).

Various different figures are circulating regarding the move. Renowned football reporter Fabrizio Romano, writing in The Guardian this evening, noted that Ronaldo received a formal proposal from the Saudi club that would pay him almost €200m (£173m) a season on a contract to 2025.

“A big part of the proposed money is being put up by sponsors,” Romano adds, “so it is unclear whether issues relating to image rights could be a stumbling block if Ronaldo chooses to pursue the move. 

“Nothing has been decided by Ronaldo, who is focused on the World Cup with Portugal after his departure from Old Trafford was announced on 22 November. The forward turned down a lucrative move to a Saudi Arabian club in the summer after telling United he wanted a transfer.

“The salary offered by Al Nassr is several times larger than the approximately £26m he was earning at United.”

Earlier today, Ronaldo did not train with his Portugal team-mates ahead of their final World Cup group game against South Korea.

The striker was doing “specific recovery work,” according to a source from the Portuguese football federation.

Ronaldo scored a penalty in his country’s opening win over Ghana. Portugal beat Uruguay 2-0 in their second match to qualify for the last 16, with Ronaldo appearing to claim a goal but he did not touch the ball and it was awarded to team-mate Bruno Fernandes.

A point against South Korea on Friday would be enough to guarantee them top spot, while they could also lose and stay first if Ghana drop points or win but don’t make up a three-goal deficit.

In part of Portugal’s training session witnessed by AFP, 21-year-old Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos joined 10 of the regular starters in a training drill, in Ronaldo’s absence.

Should Ronaldo not feature against South Korea, Ramos, RB Leipzig striker Andre Silva or AC Milan’s Rafael Leao would be in line to start.

“I’m prepared to be on the pitch, like everyone who is available,” Silva told a press conference. “It’s up to the coach to choose. It’s up to me to be prepared, and you can be sure that I am prepared.”

It is believed Ronaldo will wait until the World Cup is over before making any decision on his club future.

- With reporting from Press Association and – © AFP 2022

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    Mute Declan Snow
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    Nov 13th 2018, 7:48 PM

    Kick out one makes no sense. Anyone Who’s ever played the game has played when the wind is blowing a gail and you’re lucky to pass it forward 10 metres, let alone 25 metres. Can’t see it working across all year round. Also one thing that is drilled into every player from day 1 is to hand pass in a short space, what if on pass 4 you want to hand pass to someone running of your shoulder or a pop inside and you can’t as you have to kick it? Just won’t work.

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    Mute Emmet Ryan
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    Nov 13th 2018, 10:24 PM

    @Declan Snow: after 3 passes if there is no good forward pass on you will have to turn back and kick pass backwards to keep possession is hardly going to encourage attacking play

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    Mute Desmond Cassidy
    Favourite Desmond Cassidy
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    Nov 13th 2018, 7:36 PM

    Over complicating an essentially simple game…pointless…

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    Mute BMJF
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    Nov 13th 2018, 9:31 PM

    All too complicated – just bring rules into to subvert mass defences and problems will be solved – minimum of 4 players in opposing half at all times

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    Mute Alan Boyle
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    Nov 13th 2018, 10:26 PM

    Sideline kick:

    If I am an opposing team and I know the opposition can’t kick the ball backwards from a sideline kick then I am going to get all my players back behind the point of the sideline kick in a defensive position. Therefore this rule will have a negative impact on the game.

    If the GAA want to sort out football, their main issue and one that nobody talks about is the tackle. A defending player one on one tackling a forward will 9 times out of 10 be judged to foul that forward with the current interpretation of the tackle. Teams are then forced to pull back extra players to shepherd the attacking player with the ball away from the goal as their is less chance of giving away a free by doing this.

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    Mute Patrick O' Donoghue
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    Nov 13th 2018, 8:19 PM

    Take should keep the handpass as long it is used going forward ,if used backwards have a hop ball

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    Mute Macca
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    Nov 13th 2018, 8:33 PM

    These rule changes aren’t ideal but it needs something. Its stink at present. Give them a try it can’t get much worse.

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    Mute Sheila Teehan
    Favourite Sheila Teehan
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    Nov 13th 2018, 9:53 PM

    Best to have well painted 20m and 40m lines. In most pitches neither the referee nor the players will know where any lines are.

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    Mute Don Dealgan
    Favourite Don Dealgan
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    Nov 13th 2018, 10:17 PM

    GAA handball…can they stop the decay of the game?

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