Cristiano Ronaldo signs $75 million-per-year deal with Saudi Arabia club Al Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a contract with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, sources close to the club told CBS Sports.

Ronaldo put pen to paper on a deal with the Riyadh club on Friday afternoon, marking the end of his top-flight career but ensuring he will be paid very well as he nears retirement. The deal ends a short free agency period for the 37-year-old, whose Manchester United contract was terminated last month.

Sources familiar with the talks say Ronaldo has already completed the medicals required to sign the contract, while other tests are expected to take place next week.

CBS Sports first revealed the $75 million annual offer in November, while Ronaldo is still evaluating his options in Europe and beyond. No other serious suitors emerged and this week the Portugal international has settled the final terms on a deal that will see him make a significant impact at the Saudi Arabian club.

Al Nassr is expected to officially announce the deal after Saturday’s away game against Al Khaleej. The logistics behind Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia have long been tightened by the club, including a home for the forward and his family in an affluent area close to the training ground. In addition to a weekly salary of well over a million dollars, Ronaldo’s income can more than double from the sale of his image rights. He is also expected to play a role in Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2030 World Cup.

At club level, Ronaldo’s authority is huge, with one source joking that Al Nassri would become “Cristiano FC”. If the veteran forward wants a new coach, he’ll get one. Recent events have shown that he is not exactly shy when it comes to expressing his opinion.

Ronaldo is coming off a disappointing World Cup, where even though Portugal made a run to the quarter-finals, the superstar lost his starting spot in the knockout stages of the tournament. The tournament coincided with the end of his second spell at Manchester United after he was sacked following an incendiary interview in which he blasted club manager Erik ten Hag and others. Contact between Ronaldo and Al Nassr began in the summer, but the forward was still looking for a target to ply his trade in Europe and keep him at the top of his game ahead of November’s World Cup in Qatar. With no offers available, he returned to United, where the troubled marriage quickly soured, and now, with the World Cup over, he has taken Al Nassr up on their offer to begin the next phase of his career.