Mark Andura
Cristiano Ronaldo could return to Europe for a third time if Premier League club Newcastle United, who are currently third in the table, qualify for the next UEFA Champions League. According to reports in Spanish news outlets such as Marca, the intriguing development is the result of a clause in Ronaldo’s contract with Saudi Arabia club Al-Nassr, which he joined last week.
Newcastle United is owned by a Saudi-backed public investment fund, which will take over the English club in October 2021. Since the takeover, the club has been on an upward trajectory. The Magpies finished 11th in the 2021-22 season, but they are now in contention for a Champions League spot and a top-four finish.
“The detail that is expected in CR7’s contract is that he can leave on loan to the English team. This would occur in the following season, according to a report in the Spanish news outlet Fichajes.
Ronaldo’s new contract with Al-Nassr makes him the highest-paid footballer in history, with the Saudi club paying him more than $200 million per year.
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Ronaldo became a free agent just before the FIFA World Cup in Qatar after being released by his former club Manchester United. The announcement came just days after his explosive interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, in which he was critical of both the club and current manager Erik ten Hag.
His World Cup performance, which many believe was his final appearance at the showpiece event, was also underwhelming. Ronaldo spent a significant amount of time on the bench and came on as a substitute in the second half of Portugal’s 0-1 loss to Morocco in the quarterfinals.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, will be hoping for a strong performance in his first appearance in Asia. He has yet to play for Al-Nassr, but fans have showered him with love and respect, and they are eager to see the modern-day footballing great in action.
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