Football: Ronaldo arrives in Saudi Arabia ahead of grand Al Nassr unveiling
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Cristiano Ronaldo posing for picture with Saudi kids upon his arrival at a private airport in Riyadh, after sealing a shock move estimated at more than €200 million (S$286 million).
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
Riyadh – Al Nassr coach Rudi Garcia said the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo was a big step forward for Saudi Arabian football after the Portuguese forward arrived in Riyadh ahead of his official unveiling on Tuesday.
Ronaldo, who was a free agent following his acrimonious split with Manchester United in November, joined Al Nassr last week on a deal up till 2025 estimated by media to be worth more than €200 million (S$284 million).
“The signing of a player the size of Cristiano Ronaldo is extraordinary and contributes to the development of Saudi football,” said Garcia, who previously managed Lille, Roma, Marseille and Lyon.
“We are happy with his arrival.
“The first goal is to work so he can adapt to our team, to enjoy playing for Al Nassr, and to entertain the fans.”
The club, who lead the Saudi Professional League (SPL), have seen the number of followers on their Instagram account increase by millions since they announced Ronaldo’s transfer.
The 37-year-old forward has scored 819 career goals and his arrival represents a coup for the Gulf country, which is looking to bring more big names to the SPL.
“We will support the rest of our clubs for qualitative deals with international stars soon,” Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the country’s Minister of Sports, has said.
“Cristiano, welcome to your new home, welcome to SPL.”
Ronaldo arrived in Riyadh on Monday night ahead of his grand unveiling before thousands of fans at Al Nassr’s 25,000-capacity Mrsool Park stadium on Tuesday.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has been staying at a luxury hotel with his entourage for the time being.
“He brought a big team of assistants and even a private security firm,” an official told AFP.
The latest, and possibly final, chapter in an illustrious career comes weeks after Portugal’s quarter-final exit from the World Cup Lionel Messi lifted the trophy with Argentina.
Ronaldo’s signing until June 2025 is just the latest foray into top-level sports by oil-rich Saudi, which has moved into Formula One, boxing and golf and snapped up English Premier League club Newcastle United.
Critics have dubbed the strategy “sportswashing” – an attempt by the conservative country to distract attention from its poor human rights record.
Ronaldo is by far the biggest star to play in Saudi Arabia, although other heavyweights including George Weah, Pep Guardiola and Xavi also had stints in the wealthy Gulf in the twilight of their careers.
Al Nassr, the nine-time Saudi league champions, have called Ronaldo’s signing “more than history in the making”, claiming he will inspire the rest of the league and even the country.
The Portuguese forward has long been one of the top-paid players in football, earning a reported salary of €31 million at Juventus before taking a pay cut to rejoin United.
A billboard welcoming the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo to Arabia’s Al Nassr club, in Riyhad, on Jan 3, 2023.
PHOTO: AFP
He has won five Champions League titles, league titles in Italy with Juventus, in Spain with Real Madrid and in England with United.
He is also the top scorer in the Champions League and with the Portuguese national team, with whom he won Euro 2016.
In Qatar, he became the first man to score at five World Cups with his penalty in the group-stage win over Ghana. REUTERS, AFP
