A new report claims that Cristiano Ronaldo’s highly lucrative contract with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr has a loophole if Newcastle United make the top four.
During the furore over Ronaldo’s future whilst he was at Manchester United, and when he became a free agent, there was belief the Portuguese star was seeking Champions League football.
And while he’s since opted to go to Saudi Arabia, away from Europe’s top club competition, he could be back sooner than expected, if a report from Marca is to be believed.
A clause in Ronaldo’s new contract is reported to say he will be allowed to join Eddie Howe’s Newcastle on loan if they finish in the top four, and qualify for Champions League football in 2023-24.
Over the past 15 months, they have invested heavily in players, and turned around the club’s fortunes from the relegation spots to being in the right place for Europe’s premier club tournament.
The Magpies currently sit in third place in the Premier League, behind reigning champions Manchester City, and Mikel Arteta’s high-flying Arsenal in pole position.
Ronaldo could make his debut for Al-Nassr against Al Ta’ee on Thursday, as previously reported by Sportmail after the 37-year-old flew to the country for a medical.
His arrival could coincide with another clash with management though, as Al-Nassr coach Rudi Garcia claimed to reportered that he ‘tried to sign’ Ronaldo’s arch-nemesis Lionel Messi before signing the Portugal star.
Excited Saudi fans chanted his name and queued to buy No 7 replica shirts from the club shop ahead of his hotly-anticipated arrival into Saudi Arabian football.
Ronaldo arrives in Saudi Arabia ahead of unveiling by Al Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo will be presented at the club’s Mrsool Park stadium in Riyadh at 7pm (16:00 GMT) on Tuesday.
Portugal’s footballing superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has arrived in Riyadh ahead of his grand unveiling before thousands of fans at Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr club.
After sealing a deal estimated at more than 200 million euros ($213m), the 37-year-old touched down in the Saudi Arabian capital late on Monday, according to Al Ekhbariya state-run TV. The five-time winner of the Ballon d’Or is staying at a luxury hotel in the city with a large entourage.
“He brought a big team of assistants and even a private security firm,” an official told the AFP news agency.
Ronaldo, who left Manchester United under a cloud after slamming the club in a TV interview, will appear at Al Nassr’s 25,000-capacity Mrsool Park stadium in Riyadh at 7pm local time (16:00 GMT) on Tuesday, officials said.
The latest and possibly final chapter in Ronaldo’s illustrious career comes weeks after Portugal’s quarterfinal exit from the World Cup in neighbouring Qatar, where his great rival Lionel Messi lifted the trophy with Argentina.
Al Nassr is expecting a packed stadium for the unveiling, according to one official who did not want to be named because he was not authorised to speak to media.
Ronaldo is by far the biggest star to play in Saudi Arabia, although other heavyweights, including George Weah, Pep Guardiola and Xavi, also had stints in the wealthy Gulf in the twilight of their careers.
Ronaldo has won five Champions League titles as well as league titles in Italy with Juventus, in Spain with Real Madrid and in England with United. He is also the top scorer in the Champions League and with the Portuguese national team, with whom he won Euro 2016. At the recent World Cup 2022 in Qatar, he became the first man to score at five World Cups with his penalty in the group-stage win over Ghana.
SOURCE: dailymail.co.uk, aljazeera.com
