Cristiano Ronaldo is moving to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr until 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first man to score in five different World Cups in Qatar in 2022

Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr on a deal that runs until 2025.

The 37-year-old Portugal captain is a free agent after leaving Manchester United following a controversial interview in which he was critical of the club.

Al Nassr – nine-time Saudi Pro League champion – described the signing as “history is being made”.

The club said it would “inspire our league, nation and future generations to be the best version of themselves”.

In the summer, Ronaldo turned down a £305m deal to join another Saudi team – Al Hilal – because he was happy at United.

In early November, the striker, in an interview with Piers Morgan for TalkTV, said he felt “betrayed” by United, didn’t respect manager Erik ten Hag and was being pushed out of the club.

Ronaldo, who scored 145 goals in 346 games for United, left Juventus to return to club Old Trafford in August 2021 – 11 years after joining Real Madrid.

He had just over seven months left on his £500,000-a-week contract with United but his immediate exit was ‘mutually agreed’.

A day after leaving the club, he was banned for two domestic games for slapping a phone out of the hand of an Everton fan following United’s defeat at Goodison Park in April.

He will serve out the ban at national level with any new club – in England or abroad – although it does not apply at continental club level like the Champions League.

Ronaldo recently returned from representing Portugal at the World Cup in Qatar, where he made history by scoring in his side’s opening win over Ghana, becoming the first man to score in five separate FIFA World Cups.