Cristiano Ronaldo breaks silence on £173m Al-Nassr transfer links

Cristiano Ronaldo has played down suggestions he is set for a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.

The 37-year-old left Manchester United by mutual consent last month and has reportedly been offered a massive two-and-a-half year deal worth £173million per season to move to the Middle East.

Standard Sport understand the Portugal forward is assessing options and is waiting to see if a club playing Champions League football emerge as a viable destination.

Sporting Lisbon continue to be linked as a potential landing spot, although nothing has yet materialised on that front. Such has been the lack of decisive action from European clubs, a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia has been touted as an increasing possibility.

Ronaldo, however, dimissed such reports.

“No, that’s not true — not true,” he told reporters after the game.

Ronaldo was dropped as Portugal ran out 6-1 winners against Switzerland to book their spot in the World Cup quarter-finals, with replacement Goncalo Ramos netting a stunning hat-trick on his tournament debut.

Manager Fernando Santos had previously admitted he “really didn’t like” Ronaldo’s reaction when substituted against South Korea and the veteran now faces a battle to start in Portugal’s meeting with Morocco.