Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo joins Saudi Arabia club Al Nassr

December 10, 2022 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after a Portugal's chance to score REUTERS/Carl Recine/File Photo

Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, the Riyadh-based club said.

The Portuguese attacker departed Manchester United last month after an angry televised interview in which he said he felt betrayed by the club and lacked respect for its Dutch boss Erik ten Hag.

Al Nassr shared an image of Ronaldo holding the team's jersey on social media on Saturday, describing the acquisition as "history in the making."

The team tweeted, "This signing will inspire our club to achieve even greater success, but also our league, our nation, and future generations, boys and girls, to be the best versions of themselves."

Ronaldo stated, "I am fortunate to have won everything I set out to win in European football, and I believe now is the right time to share my experience in Asia."

"I look forward to joining my new teammates and contributing to the club's success with them."

Al Nassr stated that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner will sign a contract until 2025 but did not include any financial information. The media has claimed that Ronaldo's deal with the team is worth more than 200 million euros ($214.5 million).

Ronaldo will arrive in Saudi Arabia with a plethora of club trophies after a dazzling run with Real Madrid from 2009 to 2018. He won two La Liga crowns, two Spanish Cups, four Champions League titles, and three Club World Cups.

He scored 451 goals for Real Madrid, a club record, and more than 800 goals for club and country.

Ronaldo won two Serie A titles and one Coppa Italia in three years at Juventus before rejoining Manchester United. He won three Premier League titles, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Champions League, and the World Cup.

He represented Portugal in Qatar when he became the first male player to score in five World Cups by converting a penalty kick against Ghana in his team's opening Group H match.

Morocco eliminated Portugal in the quarterfinals, and Ronaldo spent much of the match on the bench, prompting suspicion that the footballer's star status was waning.

Ronaldo stated that Qatar would likely be his final World Cup, as he intends to retire at 40. His relocation to Saudi Arabia will probably mark the end of the career of one of the game's finest contemporary players, alongside Lionel Messi.

Al Nassr Football Club President Musalli Almuammar remarked, "This is more than history in the making." This signing will motivate our team to achieve even greater success and our league, nation, and future generations.

The Saudi Arabian club, which has won nine Saudi Pro Premier League titles, hopes Ronaldo can help them win a tenth domestic league title and their first AFC Asian Champions League trophy.

In its first group-stage game at the World Cup in Qatar last month, Saudi Arabia's national team defeated eventual champion Argentina for its most significant victory in international competition. However, the Saudis could not advance to the tournament's knockout rounds.

Publish : 2022-12-31 12:42:00

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