Cristiano Ronaldo was offered a hefty pay package that would have matched what he earned for Manchester United ahead of his sensational transfer to Al Nassr.
The Al Nassr star was United’s highest-earning player after his blockbuster return to Old Trafford, with Ronaldo reportedly earning a staggering £480,000 a week.
However, Ronaldo was unhappy with his treatment under United boss Erik ten Hag this season and was struggling for first-team minutes at the Premier League club.
Ronaldo launched a scathing attack on Ten Hag, his former United teammates and the Glazer family during a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV.
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The 37-year-old Portuguese forward’s contract with United was later terminated before making a lucrative free transfer move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.
Ronaldo, who is under contract with Al Nassr until 2025, is now the highest-paid footballer in the world thanks to his eye-watering £177m salary.
The Portugal captain had claimed during his first Al Nassr press conference that he had received “many” transfer offers, including from clubs in South America.
Corinthians president Duilio Monteiro Alves has now confirmed that the Brazilian club made an offer to Ronaldo after he became a free agent.
According to Alves, Corinthians’ pay package for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner would have been “equal” to his salary at United.
However, the Corinthians chief admitted that the club faced stiff competition in landing Ronaldo, with a proposal from Saudi Arabia being “20 times higher.”
Speaking to Os Donos da Bola, Alves said: “We made an offer to Cristiano Ronaldo. A salary equal to what he earned at United, [a] two-year deal with the help of sponsors.
“I know he also had proposals from Europe. But the proposal from Saudi Arabia was 20 times higher.
“I spoke six, seven times with [agent] Jorge Mendes and, in the end, we sent a proposal through another person.”
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Joking about Corinthians saving a lot of money after Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr, he added: “I made the proposal and even hoped not to accept it [laughs].
“Just kidding, we had many partners already warned. I think we have to try.”
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Pro League, Football
Adnan Riaz