Cristiano Ronaldo’s new two-year Al-Nassr contract is the most lucrative in sporting history, according to a report, and is worth a basic £492million over the duration of the deal.
The Portuguese has reportedly been handed a bumper pay rise to remain with the Saudi Pro League outfit he joined in December 2022 after leaving Manchester United.
The new terms, which will take him past his 42nd birthday, reportedly include an eye-watering basic salary of £488,000-a-day.
A report in the Sun states that the forward’s contract is the most lucrative in sporting history and on top of the staggering compensation, it includes the perk of becoming a ‘dream ambassador’ for the Gulf State which could take his income to more than £500m over the next two years.
Additionally, he is reportedly pocketing a signing bonus of £24.5m which increases to £38m if he triggers the second year of his contract.
The outlet also claim that he has been given a 15 per cent ownership stake in the club worth £33m. In all, if bonuses for claiming for golden boot and winning the Saudi Pro League are received, Ronaldo will be more than half a billion pounds richer at the end of his deal.
Confirmation of the former United and Real Madrid star’s new deal came on Thursday following months of speculation that he could depart the club this summer.
Last month, the Portuguese sparked rumours that he could leave the Riyadh-based outfit when he posted a cryptic social media message, which began with the words ‘this chapter is over’.
The post came at the end of another trophyless season at the club he joined from Manchester United in December 2022 and helped fuel bizarre rumours, further fanned by FIFA, that he could make a switch to a side competing in the Club World Cup .
However, following Portugal’s Nations League win, the 40-year-old revealed that he would be returning to Al-Nassr for this coming season.
On Thursday, the striker and the club confirmed the decision, with Ronaldo posting on X: ‘A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let’s make history together.’
Ronaldo scored 35 goals in 41 matches in all competitions last term and was the Saudi Pro League’s top scorer for the second season running.
In all, he has netted 99 times in 111 appearances for Al-Nassr and is inching closer to his dream of reaching 1,000 senior career goals. His current tally stands at 938.
In addition to the ludicrous sums involved in Ronaldo’s deal, the Sun also claim that Ronaldo and his family will have 16 people working full-time – three drivers, four housekeepers, two chefs, three gardeners and four security people – who will be paid for by Al-Nassr at a cost of around £1.4m.
Furthermore, there is £4m for use of a private jet, as well as the promise of sponsorship deals with Saudi companies which could reach £60m.
The report quotes a source as saying the club were ‘very worried’ the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, considered to be the ‘face of the league’ was headed for the exit.
News of Ronaldo’s deal comes a day after it was announced that head coach Stefano Pioli will leave the club.
Pioli becomes the fourth coach to depart the Saudi Pro League side since Ronaldo joined them in 2023.
He follows Rudi Garcia, Dinko Jelicic and Luís Castro in having headed for the exit door since Ronaldo’s arrival in January 2023.
Taking to X, Ronaldo wrote: ‘Grazie per tutto’, which translates into English as ‘thank you for everything’.
