Cristiano Ronaldo speaks out on £173m post-Man Utd transfer amid ‘full agreement’ claim


Former Manchester United attacker Cristiano Ronaldo has denied reports suggesting that his move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr is a done deal.

The 37-year-old is looking for a new club as it was confirmed before Portugal’s World Cup opener last month that he has been let go by Man Utd.

Ronaldo has wanted this for months as he was looking to leave the Premier League club since the summer.

United were initially unwilling to let him leave but he grew to be a hindrance to Erik ten Hag.

The former Ajax head coach realised that United performed better without him in the team, so the multiple-time Ballon d’Or player was reduced to being a bit-part player.

Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute on a couple of occasions and his fiery interview with Piers Morgan was the final straw. His contract was ripped up after he hit out at Ten Hag and the Glazer family.

The forward has been heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia in recent weeks. It has been reported that Al-Nassr are willing to offer him around £173m-a-year to join the Middle East side.

He would, in turn, become an ambassador for Saudi Arabia and it was reported earlier this week that a ‘final agreement’ had been reached between the two parties. 

Portugal head coach Fernando Santos dropped Ronaldo for their World Cup last-16 tie against Switzerland on Tuesday.

They fared brilliantly without Ronaldo as Goncalo Ramos and Joao Felix shone in the 6-1 victory.

Ronaldo was subbed on late on to rapturous applause from the crowd and he had a goal ruled out for offside.

Speaking after Portugal’s win, Ronaldo poured cold water on reports linking him with Al-Nassr.

“No, that’s not true — not true,” Ronaldo told reporters post-match.

Ronaldo’s fanboy – Morgan – recently suggested that the veteran is driven to “play at the highest level”.

“He thinks that if he does well at this World Cup, he’ll get what he really wants, which is a club in the Champions League that extends his record and his legacy,” Morgan told the Daily Telegraph.

“It comes down to a burning desire to play football at the highest level, to break records and win trophies. And he has done that in more countries than any other player in history.”

Former Man Utd striker Odion Ighalo would love Ronaldo to join him in Saudi Arabia but he thinks he will want to join a Champions League team.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is hugely ambitious, and I think he will want to play in a Champions League team and end his career well, but you never can say,” Ighalo predicted.

“He has the decision to make. I wish him all the best in that decision, and hopefully, he does come to Saudi Arabia.

“I would love for him to come to Saudi because he would boost the league and add more fanbase to the league.

“People who aren’t already watching will start to engage with the league and see something they are missing.”

READ MORE: Ronaldo sideshow finally eclipsed by brilliant Ramos as Portugal embrace a Man Utd truth

 





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