Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly has a clause in his Al-Nassr contract which allows him to join Newcastle if they qualify for the Champions League.
The 37-year-old joined the Saudi Arabian club last week after having his Manchester United contract terminated. He failed to attract offers from any top European sides due to his mammoth wage demands, leading him to reluctantly sign a £137-million-a-year deal with Al-Nassr.
Yet the legendary Portuguese star’s return to Europe could come sooner than many would have expected.
According to the news, a clause in Ronaldo’s contract with his new club allows him to join the Magpies on loan if they secure a top-four finish this season.
The bizarre clause is a consequence of Newcastle’s £300million takeover by a Saudi Arabian-led consortium in October 2021, which created a link between the north-east club and Middle-Eastern country.
Newcastle becoming the richest club in the world means they can now afford players of Ronaldo’s calibre. And a potential transfer may be on the cards sooner than anticipated with the Magpies in sensational form this season.