Report: Sporting KC Closest MLS Team to Sign Cristiano Ronaldo Pre-al-nassr Contract

According to multiple reports, the closest MLS club to signing the Portuguese star wasSportingKC.

Tom Bogert @tombogert

Sources can confirm: Sporting KC were the MLS team that came closest to signing Cristiano Ronaldo. Talks ongoing for weeks, it was a real possibility.

Package was very good. Plans were being made to make it happen. SKC had his "discovery rights" (i.e. path to sign him). Wild. https://t.co/MIXxIEPHHY pic.twitter.com/On4bRwasdo

Tom Bogert @tombogert

This might be the biggest disappointment: Watching Peter Vermes deal with the media circus. I think he would have handled it very well and more people would find out he's a funny guy and not the drill sergeant he looks like on the sidelines.https://t.co/JJowAe0Cin

"I am fortunate that I have won everything I set out to win in European football and feel now that is the right time to share my experience in Asia," he said.

Ben Jacobs @JacobsBen

🗣️ Al-Nassr president Musalli Al-Muammar on signing Cristiano Ronaldo https://t.co/0d4T0wobi7

In an interview with Piers Morgan, the Manchester United player ripped into the club's ownership and manager in an effort to leave the club.

He was terminated by Manchester United.

The original thought was that he wanted to go to a club in the top league. He joined Al-Nassr after no such move materialized because of massive wages.

Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano

Here's Cristiano Ronaldo with Al Nassr shirt after contract signed until June 2025 🚨🇵🇹🇸🇦 #Ronaldo▫️ Agreement valid for two years and half;▫️ Total salary will be close to €200m per year, but this includes commercial deal.

It's the biggest salary ever in football. pic.twitter.com/ZnOg8lY6Wb

James Benge @jamesbenge

Ronaldo's salary will be $75m a year. With image rights payments that number will more than double. He will have unprecedented power, right up to sacking the coach should he wish. Al Nassr prepared to become "Cristiano FC" in the words of one source. https://t.co/mf5VheWUPN

Leander Schaerlaeckens @LeanderAlphabet

I doubt this will be a happy marriage. The Saudis can offer Ronaldo everything except for what he craves most: attention. https://t.co/0gQAhfhElr

Laurie Whitwell @lauriewhitwell

Cristiano Ronaldo signing for Al-Nassr after being unable to find a Champions League club. European teams declined to pay £80k pw to take Ronaldo last summer when #MUFC explored exit.

He'll earn lots more in Saudi Arabia but not career finale envisioned.https://t.co/KzRQfLM9OO

Kevin Palmer @RealKevinPalmer

Cristiano Ronaldo claimed to have lots of offers from big European clubs, yet this is the reality. Done deal https://t.co/yEsnHhzbKz

The vision that Al Nassr has is very inspiring and I am thrilled for a new experience in a different league and a different country. I am very excited to help the team achieve more success.

David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovi, and Wayne Rooney have all made their way to the MLS in the past, but it's hard to imagine that an MLS club would offer the same deal to the same player.

There are no global icons like the likes ofRonaldo. He would have been the biggest star in the history of MLS and would have drawn a lot of attention to the league.

The Saudi Pro League matches might have to be streamed to keep up with the Portuguese star.