Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a deal with Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia worth more than 200 million euros ($A314m), a source close to the club told AFP .
The two-and-half-year contract for the 37-year-old former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star was confirmed on Saturday.
“Ronaldo has officially signed a two and a half year contract. The contract will be worth more than 200 million euros and Ronaldo will arrive next week,” explained the source who wished to remain anonymous.
Prominent football reporter Fabrizio Romano said it is the “biggest salary ever in football”.
“I’m thrilled for a new experience in a different league and a different country, the vision that Al Nassr has is very inspiring,” Ronaldo said.
“I’m very excited to join my teammates, and to help the team to achieve more success”.
The Portuguese star, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, has been a free agent since his second spell with Manchester United ended in a bitter divorce last month.
Ronaldo has won five Champions League titles (2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018), league titles in Italy (2019, 2020) with Juventus, in Spain (2012, 2017) with Real Madrid and in England (2007, 2008, 2009) with United.
He is also the top scorer in the Champions League and with the Portuguese national team with whom he won Euro 2016.
But Ronaldo’s time at United ended in acrimony.
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Looking to leave the club after the arrival of new coach Erik ten Hag, his time on the pitch was limited.
In a controversial interview in November, just before the World Cup, he hit out at the club, claiming he had been “betrayed”.
United then announced the termination of his contract “by mutual agreement”. Al Nassr have won nine Saudi Arabian league titles, the last in 2019.
“History in the making,” Al Nassr said in its statement.
“This is a signing that will not only inspire our club to achieve even greater success but inspire our league, our nation and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves”.
