Piers Morgan slams claim Cristiano Ronaldo is ‘finished’ after ex-Man Utd star signs £175m-a-year transfer with Al-Nassr

PIERS MORGAN jumped to the defence of pal Cristiano Ronaldo amid claims the superstar forward is "finished".

Ronaldo, 37, was axed by Manchester United following his explosive interview with Morgan in November.

And despite insisting he would carry on competing at the top of world football, Ronaldo abandoned that promise to accept an eye-watering £175million-a-year contract with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.

That has led to plenty of supporters believing the Portuguese five-time Ballon d'Or winner's career is done.

And one goaded Morgan by asking the Arsenal fan: "Thoughts on Ronaldo being finished?"

But the SunSport columnist was having none of it and launched a staunch support of his mate.

Morgan replied on : "Last time I checked, @Cristiano had just signed the biggest transfer deal in football history to become the world’s highest-paid athlete at the age of 38 [sic], playing in the only country to beat World Champions Argentina in the World Cup.

"That’s my kinda ‘finished.’"

Ronaldo penned a two-and-a-half-year deal with Al-Nassr, who terminated Vincent Aboubakar's contract in order to register the new signing.

He is still waiting to make his debut, though, due to his two-match ban issued while he was with United for slapping a phone out of a 14-year-old Everton fan's hand.

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However, the former Real Madrid man has been working hard in the gym to get ready for his Saudi bow.

And that opening match could be a blockbuster showdown with rival Lionel Messi in an All-Stars XI friendly against Paris Saint-Germain on January 19.

In the meantime, Ronaldo is settling into life in one of SAudi Arabia's tallest buildings.

The veteran forward is staying in a Four Seasons hotel in the 99-storey Kingdom Tower - and has managed to bag the Kingdom Suite, set across two floors and likely costing more than £3,300 per night.