Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr on Friday, the club announced, in a deal believed to be worth more than €200 million. The 37-year-old signed a contract that will take him until June 2025. “I can’t wait to discover a new football league in another country,” said the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus player. The Portuguese star was pictured on the Al Nassr Twitter feed wearing a blue and yellow shirt with his favorite number seven printed on the back.
“The vision Al Nassr is working with is very inspiring and I am excited to join my teammates so that together we can help the team achieve greater success,” he added.
Al Nassr has won nine Saudi Arabian league titles, the last in 2019.
“This is more than history in the making. This is a signing that will not only inspire our club to achieve even greater success, but also inspire our league, our country and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves. Welcome @cristiano to your new home @alnassr_fc,” the Saudis tweeted.
History in the making. This is a signing that will not only inspire our club to achieve even greater success, but also inspire our league, our country and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves. Welcome @Cristiano to your new home @AlNassrFC pic.twitter.com/oan7nu8NWC
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) December 30, 2022
Ronaldo is leaving for the Gulf after a year in which he was relegated to the bench for Portugal and adrift by Manchester United.
United parted ways with the Portuguese star after the veteran striker gave an explosive TV interview saying he felt “betrayed” by the club and had no respect for coach Erik ten Hag.
United terminated his contract while Ronaldo was at the World Cup with Portugal.
Ronaldo’s quest for a World Cup winners medal got off to a good start as he became the first player to score in five global tournaments when he converted a penalty in their victory against Ghana.
But he was left out of the starting lineup for their last-16 clash as Portugal tore Switzerland apart.
When Portugal lost to Morocco in the quarter-finals, he started on the bench and ended the tournament in tears.
Ronaldo has long been one of the highest paid players in football.
His salary was reportedly €31 million at Juventus, although the Turin club’s accounts are under investigation for possible under-reporting of what they paid players.
While he took a pay cut to rejoin United, with reports putting his annual base salary between €15m and €28m, excluding bonuses, he was still one of the highest paid players in Europe.
As his relationship with United deteriorated, Ronaldo has been linked with a string of Champions League contenders, including Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Napoli.
There were also rumors of a return to his first club Sporting in Lisbon. There was talk of a move to the MLS to join Inter Miami, co-owned by former United teammate David Beckham. None of those deals came to fruition.
United decided that his dwindling contribution coupled with his growing and public dissatisfaction made him an expensive luxury they no longer needed.
Saudi image
For Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo is the latest expensive sporting jewel acquired to boost their international image.
The rebellious LIV Golf series has offered huge guaranteed contracts and purses to attract stars.
Dustin Johnson reportedly signed a contract worth up to $125 million and they won over $35 million, including bonuses, in eight tournaments.
Saudi Arabia has hosted title fights in heavyweight boxing, hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Dakar Rally in the last two years.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has acquired Premier League club Newcastle in 2021 and has been linked to Manchester United.
Ronaldo has long competed with Lionel Messi for the titles of best player and biggest earner in football.
Messi pulled away from Ronaldo on the pitch by winning a World Cup, but the sums the Portuguese star will reportedly receive in Riyadh far exceed what the Argentine earns from Paris Saint-Germain.
Ronaldo has won five Champions League titles (2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018), league titles in Italy (2019, 2020) with Juventus, in Spain (2012, 2017) with Real Madrid and in England (2007, 2008, 2009 ). ) with United.
He is also top scorer in the Champions League and with the Portuguese national team that won Euro 2016.
(This story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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