According to Cristiano Ronaldo, he turned down a $305 million deal to play for a Saudi club last summer because he was "happy" at Manchester United.
Ronaldo asserted that Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia had given him a two-year contract that would have made him the highest-paid footballer in the world during an interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV. Ronaldo admitted that he turned down the offer because he was content at the time to be playing for Manchester United.
“It is true, yes it is true,” he disclosed. “But what the press keep saying, the garbage that nobody wants me, which is completely wrong. I was happy here to be honest, I was motivated to do a great season here. But they [the media] continue to repeat that nobody wants Cristiano.”
Ironically, Ronaldo’s rejection of a move away from United comes after numerous teams, including Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Sporting CP, have distanced themselves from him. Following a now-infamous interview that sent shockwaves through the club, even his own dressing room apparently wants him to leave before the end of the World Cup.
After missing Portugal’s thrashing of Nigeria due to a stomach virus, Ronaldo will be eager to play in the Selecao’s opening World Cup match against Ghana on Thursday.