Report: Ronaldo nearly joined MLS side instead of Al Nassr

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had several suitors from the north American league.

Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly came ‘very close’ to joining Sporting Kansas City before deciding to join Al Nassr.

The Saudi side confirmed Ronaldo’s record-breaking transfer on Friday, signing him on a two-year contract.

The move ends CR7’s spell at the top level as he edges closer to retiring from football. A number of elite players have spent the last years of their careers in MLS, and Ronaldo was also close to doing the same.

Most observers expected LA Galaxy or Inter Miami to make an offer for Ronaldo, who became a free agent after leaving Manchester United last month.

But another American side had seemingly taken the lead in the race to sign Ronaldo.

According to ESPN journalist Taylor Twellman, Sporting Kansas City came up with a convincing offer to sign the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

“Multiple MLS teams inquired about Ronaldo and his future, but 1 team was already at the table: Sporting KC,” he tweeted.

“Their offer was so compelling that Ronaldo’s team had multiple meetings with SKC before taking the Saudi deal. 

“The package (wages/commercial) was said to be ‘very close’.”

Sporting Kansas City owner Robb Heinemann backed Twellman’s report by retweeting it. Given Al Nassr’s plans to keep Ronaldo beyond his current deal, SKC might never find another chance to sign the Portuguese superstar.