Cristiano Ronaldo has been granted an unprecedented level of influence at Al-Nassr with the former Manchester United star described as the “main decision-maker” for the Saudi side’s transfer window this summer, according to a reporter.
Ronaldo, 40, swapped Manchester for the Middle East in December 2022 after a public fallout with then-United coach Erik ten Hag.
The Portugal international joined Al-Nassr on a free transfer, after mutually terminating his contract at Old Trafford, to become the world’s best-paid player and flagship star for the rapidly emerging Saudi Pro League.
In 105 games in the Middle East, Ronaldo has scored 93 goals and provided a further 19 assists. But he has often cut a frustrated figure as his side are yet to win the Saudi Pro League title.
There were even reports suggesting the forward would look to find a new club this summer with his contract drawing to a close to explore the prospect of playing at the Club World Cup in America this month.
But Ronaldo rebuffed these offers in favour of committing his future to Al-Nassr with the intention to sign a new deal.
And now, courtesy of Foot Mercato reporter Santi Aouna, more details have emerged from the process which convinced the Portuguese to change his mind over remaining with the Riyadh side.
Aouna reveals Ronaldo received all the “necessary guarantees” that Al-Nassr will commit to a “competitive” summer window where the 40-year-old will act as the “main decision-maker” in the market – an unprecedented level of control for a player to have over their club.
Tweet: “No doubt : Cristiano Ronaldo will stay at Al-Nassr, as exclusively revealed. The agreement has been reached between the parties.
“CR7 has received all the necessary guarantees from the PIF to build a competitive. He will be the main decision-maker in the mercato this summer. A new sportive director should arrive in the club
“Al-Nassr want AT LEAST a new centre back, defensive midfielder and a left winger. Al-Nassr are open to offers for Sadio Mané, Brozovic, Otavio. Aymeric Laporte will leave the club.”
The French reporter contends Al-Nassr want a “new centre back, defensive midfielder and a left winger” at a minimum and will listen to offers for existing stars to fund the wish list.
Interestingly, the Saudi side have been linked with moves for both Casemiro (CDM) and Alejandro Garnacho (LW) with United open to the departures of both players, albeit for differing reasons.
Casemiro, 32, has played his way back into the fold under Ruben Amorim this season. But the Brazilian’s exorbitant contract, worth in excess of £300,000 a week, remains a burden for the club and INEOS are keen to shift it.
Conversely, Garnacho, despite his age, skillset, and favourable wage packet, has burned his bridges at Old Trafford after a public fallout with Amorim over the decision to drop the Argentina international for the Europa League final.
Ronaldo is reported to have expressed a wish for both players to arrive in the Saudi capital – moves which would prove revelatory for United’s summer with the bulk of the transfer budget already drained by deals for Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
If the Red Devils could command sizeable fees for two players who do not feature highly in Amorim’s long-term plans, courtesy of Ronaldo’s influence, it may reinstate the Portuguese forward back into ‘legendary’ status at the Theatre of Dreams after his embarrassing exit three years ago.
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
