Cristiano Ronaldo has a clause in his Al Nassr contract that he can be loaned to Newcastle United if the Premier League side secure a spot in the Champions League next season, Spanish news outlet Fichajes reported.
Newcastle United is owned by the Saudi Arabian backed public investment fund and if Eddie Howe’s side manage to secure a Champions League spot, the striker could potentially return to England next season.
“The detail expected in CR7’s contract is that he can be loaned to the England team. This would happen in the next season,” the Spanish media reported.
Cristiano Ronaldo made the switch to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr on Friday. It also earns 37-year-old Ronaldo a huge payday in what could be the last contract of his career. Media reports have claimed that the Portuguese star could earn up to $200 million a year from the deal, which would make him the highest paid footballer in history.
Ronaldo was a free agent after his contract was terminated by Manchester United following an explosive TV interview in which he criticized manager Erik ten Hag and the club’s owners after he was repeatedly benched and even temporarily suspended by the club.
He also comes from a disappointing World Cup where he was benched in the knockout rounds and left the field in tears after Portugal lost to Morocco in the quarter-finals.
Newcastle are currently third in the points table with 34 points, nine behind table toppers Arsenal. The Magpies meet Arsenal on Wednesday.
“I don’t know, I just think for us, we just committed to every game,” Eddie Howe had said of his side’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League.
“We didn’t think about any change or any consequence of the games, we just tried to win them and think it’s the best way for us to attack the second half of the season as well.”