Man Utd flop joins Ronaldo at Al-Nassr on massive contract

Stuart Telford

• 18 Jul 2023 13:24 BST
• 3 min read

Al-Nassr are set to announce the signing of Alex Telles from Manchester United, with the Brazil left-back earning a bumper deal in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Nassr hit the headlines in January when they signed Cristiano Ronaldo following his release from Man Utd, making him the highest-paid sportsman in history on €200 million a year.

They add Marcelo Brozovic to their squad at the start of July, the Croatian joining from Inter Milan for €18m, but were subsequently hit with a transfer ban due to unpaid monies to Leicester for the 2018 signing of Ahmed Musa.

READ: Ronaldo set for new teammates as Al-Nassr transfer ban lifted

But this has since been lifted, and Telles is set to be the first player to benefit.

"Done Deal! Alex Telles to Al-Nassr from Manchester United," tweeted Italian transfer journalist Nicolo Schira. "Contract until 2026 (€12m/year)."

Telles joined by Fofana… and Diaby?

Telles' transfer fee hasn't been discloded, although the player valued at €7.9m by FootballTransfers in-house algorithm is out of contract at Old Trafford next summer, potentially driving down his price.

A Brazil regular, Telles spent last season on loan at Sevilla with Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia in his way at Old Trafford.

READ: Ronaldo SLAMS European football: Every league is DEAD

Seko Fofana is also expected to join Ronaldo in Riyadh, the Lens captain having agreed terms on a transfer which could reach up to €30m, which would have been a club record fee for the Ligue 1 side before Lois Openda's €45m move to RB Leipzig.

Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby has also been linked with a move to Al-Nassr, but it is understood that Aston Villa are at the front of the queue to sign the fleet-footed Frenchman after lodging a €35m bid.

Al-Nassr finished as runners-up to Al-Ittihad last season - despite Ronaldo's 14 goals in 16 games - but they have also strengthened this summer, with Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and Jota - Celtic's one - signed.