Cristiano Ronaldo Has Shock Champions League Clause With Newcastle in Al Nassr Contract
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League ambitions may not be over just yet, despite signing for Saudi Arabia club Al Nassr.
The Sun report, per Marca, that the 37-year-old has a clause in his new contract allowing him to join Newcastle United on loan if they qualify for the Champions League this season. “This is because of the Middle Eastern link – with the North East outfit owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund,” the article states. The Portuguese forward signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at Al Nassr after leaving Manchester United in November. Newcastle are currently third in the Premier League table after 17 matches played.
What an unusual turnaround in events this would be. Ronaldo has never hidden his desire to play once more in Europe’s top tier competition and it looks likely that Newcastle will finish in the top-four this season. Whether Eddie Howe would want to take Ronaldo on is a completely different matter, however. He will be 38 by the time next September comes around and will have been out of Europe for almost a year.
Howe’s side currently sit third in the Premier League table with 34 points from 17 matches.
Ronaldo’s second stint at Manchester United came to an abrupt halt at the end of last year following an explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
He initially quashed any talk of a move to Saudi Arabia, but changed his mind after the World Cup.
