Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a new two-year contract with Al-Nassr to extend his stay with the Saudi Pro League club.
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.’
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner will be desperate to claim his domestic title with the side while maintaining his impressive output.
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.
Confirmation of Ronaldo’s new deal – reported to be worth £167million per year – 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’.
