The Portuguese claims he turned down offers from the Old Continent, Brazil or Australia during his lavish presentation as a new Al Nassr footballer
Cristiano Ronaldo was crowned the undisputed king of the Saudi league on Tuesday. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner enjoyed a lavish presentation as a new player for Al Nassr, a club that will make him the world’s highest-paid athlete by renewing a contract that will net the Portuguese €500 million. for more than seven years.
The man who was the flagship of Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus will wear the elastic with the number ‘7’ of Al Nassr until 2025 when, after reaching the age of 40, he will become the club’s sports adviser and ambassador becomes for a football that dreams of hosting the 2030 World Cup, which Spain is also aiming for in a joint candidacy with Portugal and Ukraine which, unlike Saudi Arabia, already has official status. “My contract here is unique because I am a unique player,” he said in his first speech as an Al Nassr player with the ego that characterizes him.
The arrival of the star from Madeira to Saudi Arabia is a blow to the table of a country that wants to become a sports benchmark on checkbooks. It is already active in other disciplines such as golf, where its petrodollars have served to steal prominent figures from the European and American circuits, and it has drawn up a plan to replicate football, whose landing of Cristiano Ronaldo is the master beam. The Portuguese must be the beacon that attracts new stars who are already in the latter part of their career and want to enjoy a golden pension like Cristiano’s. This makes the presentation of CR7 in the Mrsool Park stadium in Riyadh look like the ‘premiere’ of a James Bond film.
The Funchal star arrived dressed in a suit and tie at what will be his new home, with the music of Saudi singer Ayed thundering into the stadium, enlivening the wait for the excited spectators to pack the stands of Mrsool Park. Before jumping onto the pitch to greet his new fans, Cristiano gave a press conference where he revealed he had turned down offers from Australia, Europe or Brazil to join the Saudi league. “This is not only a great opportunity for football, but also to try to change the mentality of the world. I have had opportunities to play in Europe, Brazil and Australia, even in Portugal. I chose this challenge because I want to try to help develop the country and the club with my experience,” he said.
He praised the existing level in his new championship and denied that it is the end of his career. “It’s good to come here. I’ve broken all the records in Europe and I want to break some more here,” said Cristiano Ronaldo, who was immediately eager to play. “I came here to win and be part of the culture of the country. What I want is to laugh and be able to play football,” added the attacker, “proud” of the step he has taken. “My work in Europe is already done. I have played for the best clubs in Europe and now I thank Saudi Arabia for the chance of a new challenge,” he noted.
Cristiano Ronaldo will share a dressing room with old European football acquaintances such as Álvaro González, Aboubakar, Ospina or Luiz Gustavo, and will be led by Rudi García, who coached Roma, Olympique de Marseille or Lyon. The Frenchman was satisfied with the fact that he could count on “one of the best in history”. “For me, for the country and for the club, it is fantastic that someone of his stature can come. I’ve seen great players all my life, but not like Cristiano,” added the French coach.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
