Just when fans thought Cristiano Ronaldo might be gearing up for another surprise move, the football icon has put all the speculation to rest. He’s staying in Saudi Arabia.
After weeks of mystery posts and swirling rumors, Ronaldo has officially signed a new two-year contract with Al-Nassr, reaffirming his commitment to the Saudi Pro League club he joined in late 2022.
Confusing Social Media Post Had Everyone Talking
The buzz started last month when Ronaldo posted a cryptic message on social media that began with the words, “this chapter is over.”
That vague statement, paired with a second season without silverware at Al-Nassr, had everyone—from fans to football insiders—wondering if he was packing his bags.
Some even speculated a dramatic move could be on the horizon, perhaps to a team playing in the FIFA Club World Cup.
After Nations League Victory, He Clears the Air
But fresh off helping Portugal win the Nations League, Ronaldo finally put an end to the gossip.
On Thursday, both he and the club confirmed that he’s sticking around for the upcoming season—and beyond.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Ronaldo wrote:
“A new chapter begins.
Same passion, same dream. Let’s make history together.”
Still Scoring Goals and Chasing Records
The 40-year-old may be entering the twilight of his career, but he’s still delivering.
Last season, he scored 35 goals in 41 appearances, topping the Saudi Pro League scoring charts for the second year in a row.
Since arriving at Al-Nassr, he’s racked up 99 goals in 111 games, inching ever closer to his ultimate career milestone—1,000 senior career goals.
As of now, he’s at 938. That number might have seemed impossible a few years ago, but Ronaldo keeps proving doubters wrong.
The Money Is Massive—And the Pressure Is On
Ronaldo’s new contract is reportedly worth a staggering £167 million per year, reflecting not just his talent on the pitch but also his global marketing power.
Al-Nassr clearly sees him as the cornerstone of their ambitions, and he’s not showing any signs of slowing down.
But with big paychecks come big expectations.
Ronaldo will be eager to finally deliver domestic silverware, something that’s still missing from his Al-Nassr chapter.
A New Coach Is Coming—Again
Interestingly, news of Ronaldo’s contract extension came just a day after it was confirmed that head coach Stefano Pioli will be leaving the club.
Pioli is now the fourth coach to exit Al-Nassr since Ronaldo’s arrival.
He joins Rudi Garcia, Dinko Jelicic, and Luís Castro on the growing list of managers who didn’t stick around for long.
Whether this revolving door of coaches will continue remains to be seen—but Ronaldo seems ready to adapt yet again.
On X, Ronaldo posted a farewell message to Pioli in Italian:
“Grazie per tutto,” which means “Thank you for everything.”
What’s Next for CR7 and Al-Nassr?
Now that the future is clear, the focus shifts back to the pitch.
Ronaldo has two more seasons to chase a league title, break records, and potentially hit that magic number of 1,000 career goals.
At 40, he’s defying expectations—and with this new deal, he’s not done writing history just yet.