Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo has reached
an agreement with Al Nassr to extend his contract by another year until June
2026, an official with the Saudi club has told AFP.
The official said the sides have agreed on the
renewable extension of Ronaldo’s contract, “but it has not been signed yet. An
announcement will be made over the coming days”.
Ronaldo turned 40 last week with his current contract
due to end in June 2025.
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus
star joined Al Nassr in January 2023 and has since scored 82 goals in 90
matches.
In August, Ronaldo said he would stay with Al Nassr
through the end of his professional career, which may be “soon or in two or
three years”.
“But it’ll most likely happen with Al Nassr, in the
team that makes me happy… and where I feel good.”
The Portuguese great appeared to trade an
end-of-career payday for football obscurity when he moved to Riyadh’s Al Nassr
two years ago in a deal said to be worth $250 million.
But his influence became clear when he was followed by
a parade of ageing superstars to the big-spending Saudi Pro League.
Saudi Arabia was then awarded the 2034 World Cup in
December, the crowning glory for the oil-rich kingdom’s strategy of revamping
its image through sports, tourism and culture.
When Ronaldo launched his YouTube channel in August,
he gained one million subscribers in just 90 minutes and 20 million within 24
hours. He currently has 73.5 million.
Although World Cup glory has probably eluded him,
unlike his Argentine rival Lionel Messi, records still dangle in front of the
five-time Ballon d’Or and Champions League winner.
Despite his prodigious form as he closes in on 1,000
professional goals in official matches, Ronaldo is yet to win a Saudi or
continental trophy with Al Nassr, with the Arab Club Champions Cup of 2023 his
only triumph with the club.
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