The legend make his decision between Chelsea and Arsenal crystal clear - Ronaldo fires another shot at former club as he admits he will remain in the EPL just to prove Ten Hag wrong

The legend make his decision between Chelsea and Arsenal crystal clear -  Ronaldo fires another shot at former club as he admits he will remain in the EPL just to prove Ten Hag wrong

Cristiano Ronaldo transfer: Details on £1bn deal, three-player axe and Lionel Messi union

Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Al-Nassr seems to be edging closer with the Saudi Arabia outfit set to pay the player over a billion, which could see him team up with Lionel Messi off the pitch

Cristiano Ronaldo could be about to land himself a seven-year deal in Saudi Arabia worth £1bn as he looks to life post- Manchester United.

The forward was linked with an Old Trafford exit in the summer but remained at the club under Erik ten Hag, who has only used him sporadically since arriving. Ronaldo's increased frustration led to him doing a tell-all interview with Piers Morgan, during which he criticised several individuals at the club.

United opted to sever ties with the player as a result, leaving him on the hunt for a new employer. Ronaldo claims several clubs were interested back in the summer, which contracts other reports suggesting there were few - if any - buyers for the 37-year-old.

Man Utd's blunt goodbye to Cristiano Ronaldo in matchday programme says it all

His antics, on and off the pitch, over the past six months will no doubt see big clubs around Europe have reservations about signing him. With options, therefore, running out a switch to the Middle East and Saudi Arabia is on the cards. Al-Nassr are ready to open the chequebook and offer numbers never before seen in sport.

Huge pay day

Ronaldo's commercial pull remains intact, even if his performances on the pitch have diminished recently. The 37-year-old's deal is set to see him play for two-and-a-half years before taking up an ambassadorial role, at which point his pay will further increase.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is set to pen a £175m-a-year deal, as per reports in Spain. When at United Ronaldo was the Premier League's highest-paid player, but his annual earnings were just over £26m.

Cristiano Ronaldo is looking for a new club after leaving Man Utd

Cristiano Ronaldo is looking for a new club after leaving Man Utd(Getty Images)

According to Forbes ' recent list, Messi was the highest-paid athlete in 2022 with his on-field earnings hitting £62m - more than £100m less than Ronaldo will earn. He would also greatly exceed the likes of LeBron James, Steph Curry, Cancelo Alvarez and Tom Brady in the rich list.

Ronaldo was linked with Al-Nassr before the World Cup but refused to comment on speculation as he attempted to focus on matters just across the border in Qatar. Talks have been ongoing for some time and it appears a breakthrough has now been reached with an agreement close.