Former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea playfully teased his ex-teammate Cristiano Ronaldo following the Portuguese star’s contract renewal with Saudi club Al Nassr.
After Ronaldo announced his new deal on social media last week, De Gea responded with a cheeky comment, suggesting that the legendary forward was “playing for free.”
Ronaldo, 40, shared on his X account that the contract extension marked a new chapter in his career, maintaining the “same passion” and “same dream” he has always had.
De Gea’s witty reply implied that Ronaldo’s decision to stay at Al Nassr was driven by reasons beyond money.
The new contract reportedly improves upon Ronaldo’s previous lucrative deal, which made him the highest-paid athlete globally.
According to data from the MLS Players Association cited by ESPN, Ronaldo’s salary at Al Nassr stands at $210 million per season—more than ten times the salary of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.
Messi remains the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer, earning just over $20 million per season.
