Cristiano Ronaldo has entered discussions with high-ranking officials from the Saudi government and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) as the Saudi Pro League strives to retain its star player. Ronaldo’s contract with Al-Nassr is set to expire at the end of this month. His recent social media comment on May 26, stating that “the chapter is over” raised questions about his future with the club and the league. Nonetheless, Saudi government figures have been making efforts to negotiate a contract extension with the 40-year-old football star, with hopes that he will decide to remain in the kingdom.

During these negotiations, assurances have been made that Al-Nassr will receive substantial central funding to enhance their squad, which finished third in the league last season. Noteworthy targets include Rafael Leao and Luis Diaz for offensive positions, alongside discussions for procuring a world-class center-back. This includes players like David Hancko, Alessandro Bastoni, and Antonio Rudiger, although Rudiger currently has no confirmed transfer talks in progress.

Moreover, PIF is anticipated to make substantial investments to bolster Ronaldo’s team. The involvement of Saudi officials in the negotiations reflects Ronaldo’s significant importance to the country’s sports agenda. His potential move to Al-Hilal for the Club World Cup, as reported by CBS Sports, further illustrates the stakes involved in his decisions.

To facilitate his participation in the Club World Cup, it has been suggested that Ronaldo might sign a temporary loan agreement that would allow him to rejoin Al-Nassr before the Pro League resumes in August. However, he is reportedly expressing reservations about such a move, which may affect his standing with Al-Nassr fans. Additionally, there is a possibility that he may consider playing for a Brazilian club involved in the tournament before reassessing his options thereafter.