Man Utd legend who was once reduced to tears by Sir Alex Ferguson set for mega new contract abroad

Ex-Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly set to earn a new contract worth over £167m with Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr. The 39-year-old left the Red Devils for the Saudi outfit back in January 2023 after a public fallout with then manager Erik ten Hag.

Ronaldo’s move led to further big-names following him to Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023 with the likes of Neymar, Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and Jordan Henderson heading to the Middle East. There was not as much of a rush from European players during the most recent summer window but Ronaldo is still plying his trade in the Gulf state.

In reports relayed by Mail Sport, Ronaldo is close to agreeing a contract extension with his current deal set to run out at the end of the season. He has already racked up 60 Saudi Pro League appearances for Al-Nassr, scoring 60 goals and providing 15 assists.

Ronaldo’s second United exit

The Portugal international left the Red Devils after a public interview in which he criticised Ten Hag. He said when leaving: "Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early. I love Manchester United and I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge. I wish the team every success for the remainder of the season and for the future."

A club statement added: "Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect. The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future. Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team's progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch."

Ronaldo arrived at Old Trafford for a second spell with the club ahead of the 2021-22 season. He made 37 appearances in the Premier League and Champions League, scoring 24 goals. The following season, he scored just once in 10 Premier League appearances before departing.

Sir Alex’s relationship with Ronaldo

Although Ronaldo’s relationship with Ten Hag did not end on the best terms, the Portugal international still has a strong bond with his first United coach Sir Alex Ferguson. The pair won three Premier League titles, one Champions League, an FA Cup, two League Cups and the FIFA Club World Cup together. Former United defender Rio Ferdinand revealed in a recent BBC documentary how he felt Ferguson got the best out of Ronaldo.

He said: "We'd been to Portugal and played a couple of games, and he hadn't played well, Cristiano, because he was young, he tried too hard. I remember we played Benfica, and the manager ripped into Cristiano. 'Who d'you think you are? You're coming in here trying to prove to everybody who you think you are, you think you're a superstar'. And I remember Cristiano in tears in the changing room. And I was like, 'This manager doesn't care, man. He doesn't care who you are.'

"But then look at the player that he became. He needed moments like that. And the manager knew that he could be soft and nice with him, but he had to be hard as well to get him to where he got to — the world's best player when he left."