Cristiano Ronaldo is set to bank AT LEAST £168m as he closes in on an eye-watering new deal with Al-Nassr.
The ex-Manchester United star is out of contract with the Saudi Pro League side at the end of the current campaign. He has been in the Gulf state since January 2023 following an explosive exit from Old Trafford.
Ronaldo had earned £164m per season with Al-Nassr in just a base salary, with another £49m available to him with a number of off-pitch ventures. The Saudi side have always been keen to tie the 39-year-old down to a new deal and it appears that they are offering Ronaldo a pay rise in an effort to keep him.
As per Marca, he will now earn nearly £4m more throughout the season and is also being offered a number of other lucrative bonuses. It is also reported that the Portuguese superstar will also be offered part-ownership of the club.
Ronaldo has apparently been offered the chance to buy around five percent of the club as a structural refresh gets underway. A new president and chief executive are set to be appointed over the coming months.
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund currently owns 75 percent of the club, as well as a stake in a number of their division rivals. Ronaldo has constantly banged the drum of support for the Saudi Pro League, having recently claimed it was better than the French top flight.
“Saudi League is better than Ligue 1, of course,” Ronaldo said. “All France only has PSG. The rest are finished. Try to sprint in 38, 39, 40 degree weather and see. It is difficult to become champion in Saudi. This year Al-Hilal are better, Al-Ittihad are top of the league, but I believe that we have to push hard to be champions.
“I've been champion everywhere I have (played) and I believe I will be champion, but I've won this trophy for scoring so many goals and assists and maintaining my level.”
Meanwhile, Ronaldo finally admitted last year that players were following him to the Middle East for money. He said: "I knew that players would follow because, not only in financial terms, which is the main point you can say, but as well the culture of football.
"I knew the culture of Saudi football was nice because I had friends who played there before, Portuguese coaches were there. Of course, if you ask me: You expect so quickly for big stars would move there? - No. But, I expected the football would change because of me. I believe in myself, not only in football but in other areas as well."
Ronaldo, who has scored 81 goals in 90 games for Al-Nassr, could soon be joined at Al-Nassr by a former United teammate. It was suggested that he had requested chiefs to make a move for Brazilian midfielder Casemiro.