Cristiano Ronaldo to be joined by American star? Al Nassr reportedly ready to pay $82 million for forward

After weeks of intense speculation over the potential departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr secured the continuity of their main star with a contract extension through 2027. Now, they are reportedly interested in signing an American player.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Christian Pulisic is on Al Nassr’s radar. The club intends to surround CR7 with top-tier talent, and adding a player of that caliber could be key to competing for the elusive Saudi Pro League title next season.

The interest is so strong that, according to reports, Al Nassr are considering an investment of up to $82 million to acquire Pulisic from AC Milan. The deal could also include Aymeric Laporte, the 31-year-old Spanish defender who joined the Saudi side from Manchester City in 2023, as part of the exchange.

Al Nassr lost Jhon Duran this summer, the Colombian forward who arrived midseason from Aston Villa and scored 12 goals in 18 matches. Duran moved to Turkey’s Fenerbahce, where he will be coached by former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho.

Christian Pulisic of AC Milan

This departure helps explain the Saudi team’s interest in adding another high-level attacker. While Pulisic has different characteristics than Duran, he could be an ideal complement to Cristiano Ronaldo.

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How is Pulisic doing at AC Milan?

In his two seasons with AC Milan, Christian Pulisic has delivered convincing performances that make him a key player for the club. So far, he has appeared in 100 matches across Serie A, Coppa Italia, and European competitions, registering 32 goals and 20 assists — that’s more than a goal contribution every two games.

Given this, it’s understandable that Milan has no intention of letting him go. “We are planning to extend Christian’s stay,” sporting director Igli Tare recently assured. “He’s vital to our future, both on and off the pitch.”

Pulisic arrived in Italy in 2023 from Chelsea in a transfer worth around $25 million. He signed a four-year contract with an option for an additional year, lasting until 2028. His annual salary is $4.7 million, and while there have been talks about a raise, nothing has been finalized yet.