Al-Nassr’s Monster Salary Offer For Sergio Busquets To Join Cristiano Ronaldo, According To Reports

The monstrous salary offer that Saudi Giants Al-Nassr have reportedly made to FC Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets has been revealed.

The Barca skipper, who has been a mainstay in the club’s midfield since 2008, is out of contract from June 30 onwards.

His coach and former teammate Xavi Hernandez has made it clear on numerous occasions that he would prefer to have the World Cup winner stick around at Camp Nou.

And while there were reports last week that the 35-year-old is ready to listen to what Barca have to say and is even prepared to lower his salary to make a contract extension happen in times of financial hardship for the Catalans, Busquets has always been linked with a potential move to Inter Miami.

In recent months, Cristiano Ronaldo’s new club Al-Nassr have appeared to have thrown their hat into the rings as well. On Tuesday, Mundo Deportivo has revealed the figure that the Saudis are willing to pay Busquets to continue his football there, as the kingdom prepares a joint hosting bid for the 2030 World Cup.

According to MD, this figure is €18mn ($19.3mn) a season on a two-year deal. It falls someway short of the $210mn that Ronaldo will allegedly take home, and the reported $350mn that Al-Nassr’s rivals Al-Hilal are willing to table in order to land Busquets’ former colleague Lionel Messi – who is also a free man in the summer.

Should Messi accept the deal, he will likely top Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-earning soccer players. In 2022, Kylian Mbappe achieved this with earnings of $128mn divided into $110 million on-field and $18 millon off-field due to a lucrative contract renovation he penned with Paris Saint Germain.

Messi finished second and not far behind with earnings of $120 million – $65 million on-field and $55 million off-field – while Ronaldo was third with a cool $100mn ($40 million on-field, $60 million off-field).

Busquets is currently out of action for Barca after picking up an ankle sprain and leaving their 3-0 win against Sevilla early on Sunday evening.

Exepcted to return in two to three weeks, he will miss an important Europa League playoff first leg against Manchester United at home on February 16 and could be doubtful for the return leg at Old Trafford a week later.