After rumours surfaced that Al-Nassr had forced Cristiano Ronaldo to sign a clause in his contract promising his support for a 2030 World Cup bid, the club issued a statement Tuesday night refuting the claims.
Al-Nassr denied reports that Ronaldo was paid an additional €200 million ($214m/£177m) to promote Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the World Cup in 2030.
After leaving Manchester United, CR7 signed a contract with Al-Nassr, making him one of the highest-paid athletes in history. Although he has not yet made his Saudi Arabian debut, he was a spectator for their recent victory over Al-Tai.
“Al-Nassr FC would like to clarify that contrary to news reports, Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract with Al-Nassr does not entail commitments to any World Cup bids,” wrote the club. “His main focus is on Al-Nassr and to work with his teammates to help the club achieve success.”
The seasoned striker may play in Al-Nassr’s January 19 exhibition game against Paris Saint-Germain. There’s a chance he’ll meet up with Lionel Messi, an old rival, in that matchup.
