Cristiano Ronaldo could be set for an early exit from Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, with reports revealing the existence of a £43 million (€50m) release clause in his contract.
The 40-year-old forward, who is the highest-paid footballer in history on a deal reportedly worth £488,000 per day, is said to be considering his future ahead of the summer transfer window, with a potential return to Europe or a move to Major League Soccer under discussion.
According to reports, Ronaldo is unhappy with how Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has handled Al-Nassr’s finances, particularly when compared to the backing received by rival Saudi Pro League clubs.
The PIF owns a 75 per cent stake in four clubs — Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli — and has played a central role in attracting global stars to the league. However, Ronaldo reportedly feels Al-Nassr have not been supported equally in the transfer market.
His frustration is believed to have intensified following Al-Hilal’s recent acquisition of Karim Benzema, his former Real Madrid teammate, from Al-Ittihad. Al-Hilal currently sit one point above Al-Nassr in the league standings.
Ronaldo is said to believe that Al-Nassr’s manager has not received sufficient reinforcements to compete on equal footing with rivals, despite claims that Benzema’s move was financed by external investors rather than the PIF.
Earlier this week, Ronaldo was absent from Al-Nassr’s 1–0 victory over Al-Riyadh, a move reportedly interpreted as a form of protest.
Portuguese outlet Record claims the situation has led Ronaldo to seriously consider leaving the club at the end of the season. The forward still has 18 months remaining on the two-year contract he signed last summer.
Whether any club will activate the £43m release clause remains uncertain, especially with Ronaldo set to turn 41 later this week.