Which MLS club was close to signing Cristiano Ronaldo?
Cristiano Ronaldo was close to joining an MLS side before finalising his move to Al Nassr.
Cristiano Ronaldo has a club again. Al Nassr is the fifth club of his career after spells at Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.
The Portugal international was spotted training at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training facility to stay in shape after the World Cup. And the rumours continued, but he would not be returning to the Santiago Bernabéu.
He was linked with the top clubs, but they didn’t want to sign the 37-year-old, who didn’t help his reputation with his controversial interview with Piers Morgan.
One team who didn’t mind having to deal with Ronaldo in the twilight of his 20-year career was MLS outfit Sporting Kansas City.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Sporting Kansas City tried to sign Ronaldo before he joined Al Nassr.
“Sporting Kansas City were really trying to sign Cristiano Ronaldo. SKC held a meeting before Morgan interview then one more with concrete talks about the prospects of CR7 playing in Kansas City commercially,” Romano wrote on Twitter.
“Salary package was huge but Ronaldo decided for Al Nassr move.”
ESPN’s Tayler Twellman revealed that several MLS teams enquired about Ronaldo.
“Their offer [Sporting KC] was so compelling that Ronaldo’s team had multiple meetings w/SKC before taking the Saudi deal. The package (wages/commercial) was said to be “very close”.”
Journalist Tom Bogert reports that talks were ongoing for weeks, and a move to Sporting KC was a “real possibility” for Ronaldo.
Enormous Ronaldo salary
Romano also reports that Ronaldo’s football salary at Al Nassr will be close to $90 million per year.
Commercial and sponsorship deals will be included in the agreement to bring his total salary close to $200 million.