After much speculation, Cristiano Ronaldo appears to finally be headed to Saudi Arabia to continue his club career for a staggering amount of money.
On Friday, CBS reported that Ronaldo had signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr worth $75 million per year. The club confirmed his arrival later in the day.
Soccer reporter Fabrizio Romano adds that Ronaldo’s total annual compensation will be close to €200 million ($214M) with commercial deals included.
Initial reporting suggested the 37-year-old would bring in a tremendous $207 million annually.
There was also speculation that part of the Portuguese great’s presence in Riyadh would involve him promoting Saudi Arabia’s joint bid for the 2030 World Cup — but the Evening Standard reports that he will no longer do that, as Portugal is also submitting a joint bid for the tournament.
Assuming the reports are accurate, it would likely spell the end for Ronaldo’s career in Europe — and, subsequently, in UEFA Champions League, where he is the competition’s all-time leading scorer with 140 goals.
