Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly weighing up a departure from Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr this summer after details of a release clause in his contract emerged.
The Portuguese superstar, who earns around £488,000 per day and is the highest-paid footballer of all time, is said to be unhappy with the way Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is managing Al-Nassr compared to rival clubs. Earlier this week, the 40-year-old appeared to go on strike, missing his team’s 1-0 victory over Al Riyadh.
PIF holds a 75 per cent stake in four Saudi clubs — Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli — and has played a key role in attracting elite players to the league through lucrative deals. However, Ronaldo reportedly feels Al-Nassr have been disadvantaged in the transfer market.
Al-Hilal currently sit one point ahead of Al-Nassr in the league and recently signed Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad. Although Benzema’s move was funded by external investors rather than PIF, Ronaldo is believed to think his own club has not received comparable backing.
Reports suggest Ronaldo is frustrated that Al-Nassr manager Jorge Jesus has not been given sufficient reinforcements, especially when compared to rival teams.
According to Portuguese outlet Record, this dissatisfaction has led Ronaldo to consider leaving Al-Nassr at the end of the season, with a possible return to Europe or a move to Major League Soccer under consideration.
The report also claims Ronaldo has a £43 million (€50 million) release clause in his contract. He has 18 months remaining on the two-year deal he signed last summer, though it remains unclear whether any club would activate the clause with the forward set to turn 41 this week.
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