The 37-year-old penned a contract which is able to take him to June 2025.
RIYADH – Cristiano Ronaldo on Friday signed for Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia, the membership introduced, in a deal believed to be worth extra than 200 million euros (over R3 billion).
The 37-year-old penned a contract which is able to take him to June 2025.
“I can’t wait to discover a new football league in a different country,” mentioned the previous Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus participant.
The Portuguese star was pictured on the Al Nassr Twitter feed holding a blue and yellow shirt along with his favoured quantity seven printed on the again.
“The vision with which Al Nassr operates is very inspiring, and I am delighted to join my teammates, so that together we can help the team achieve greater success,” he added.
Al Nassr have gained 9 Saudi Arabian league titles, the final 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 inspire our league, our nation and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves. Welcome @cristiano to your new home @alnassr_fc,” tweeted the Saudis.
Ronaldo heads to the Gulf after a 12 months that noticed him relegated to the bench for Portugal and minimize adrift by Manchester United.
United parted methods with the Portuguese star after the veteran ahead gave an explosive TV interview in which he mentioned he felt “betrayed” by the membership and had no respect for coach Erik ten Hag.
United terminated his contract whereas Ronaldo was with Portugal on the World Cup.
Ronaldo’s quest for a World Cup winners’ medal began nicely as he grew to become the primary participant to attain in 5 international tournaments when he transformed a penalty in their win in opposition to Ghana.
But he was disregarded of the beginning line-up for their last-16 conflict as Portugal ripped Switzerland aside.
When Portugal misplaced to Morocco in the quarter-finals, he began on the bench and ended the event in tears.
Ronaldo has lengthy been one of many top-paid gamers in soccer.
His wage was a reported 31 million euros at Juventus, though the Turin membership’s accounts are being investigated for probably under-reporting what they paid gamers.
While he took a pay minimize to rejoin United, with stories placing his primary annual wage someplace between 15 million and 28 million euros, earlier than bonuses, that also made him one of many best-paid gamers in Europe.
As his relationship with United soured, Ronaldo was linked to a string of Champions League contenders together with Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Napoli.
A return to his first membership Sporting in Lisbon was additionally rumoured. There was speak of a transfer to the MLS to hitch Inter Miami, part-owned by former United crew mate David Beckham. None of these offers got here to fruition.
United determined his diminishing contribution coupled along with his rising and public dissatisfaction made him a dear luxurious they now not wanted.
SAUDI IMAGE
For Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo is the most recent high-priced sporting jewel acquired so as to add lustre to their worldwide picture.
The insurgent LIV Golf sequence has supplied big assured contracts and purses to draw stars.
Dustin Johnson reportedly signed a contract worth as much as 125 million {dollars} and them gained extra than 35 million, together with bonuses, in eight tournaments.
Saudi Arabia has staged heavyweight boxing title bouts, has hosted a Formula One grand prix the final two years in addition to the Dakar Rally.
The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia acquired Premier League membership Newcastle in 2021 and is being linked with Manchester United.
Ronaldo has lengthy been in competitors with Lionel Messi for the titles of best participant and largest earner in soccer.
Messi pulled away from Ronaldo on the sector by successful a World Cup, however the sums of cash the Portuguese star will reportedly obtain in Riyadh, far surpasses what the Argentine is making from Paris Saint-Germain.
Ronaldo has gained 5 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 can also be the highest scorer in the Champions League and with the Portuguese nationwide crew with whom he gained Euro 2016.