Cristiano Ronaldo was introduced because the celebrity new signing of Saudi Arabian membership Al Nassr on Tuesday, with the workforce’s president saying the Portugal nice deserves to be the very best paid participant on the planet.
Ronaldo mentioned he turned down “many golf equipment” around the globe to finish one of the vital stunning transfers within the sport’s historical past, which may reportedly earn him as much as $200 million a 12 months.
Al Nassr president Musalli Almuammar wouldn’t verify the precise figures within the two-and-a-half-year contract.
“He’s one of the best participant in soccer historical past so it’s regular he would be the highest by way of price or wage,” Almuammar mentioned. “That is one thing that he actually deserves, so the amount of cash he’ll take, he actually deserves.”
Ronaldo was introduced to hundreds of followers at Al Nassr’s Mrsool Park towards a backdrop of fireworks and smoke machines.
The previous Manchester United, Actual Madrid and Juventus ahead will play within the Saudi Professional League after rejecting presents from Europe, North America and past.
“I’m so proud to make this massive choice in my life. In Europe my work is completed. I gained the whole lot and performed for a very powerful golf equipment in Europe. It is a new problem,” Ronaldo mentioned at a information convention the place he solely answered questions from the grasp of ceremonies, regardless of sitting in a room filled with journalists.
The 37-year-old Portugal worldwide, who has gained 5 Ballon d’Or awards for one of the best participant on the earth and 5 Champions League titles, will play outdoors of Europe for the primary time in his storied profession.
“No one is aware of this, however I had many alternatives in Europe, Brazil, Australia, the U.S., even Portugal, many golf equipment tried to signal me. I gave my phrase to this membership,” Ronaldo added. “I wish to give a special imaginative and prescient of this nation and soccer. Because of this I took this chance.”
Pleasure constructed all through the day forward of Ronaldo’s introduction, with followers making their option to the stadium early in anticipation of his arrival.
Giant video screens on the outside partitions of the bottom pictured him in Al Nassr’s yellow and blue shirt, alongside the phrases “Hala Ronaldo.”
When he finally walked out onto the sphere on the 25,000-capacity stadium, the group chanted his identify raucously.
“I wish to make you all blissful. That is my purpose,” he mentioned.
Ronaldo had his contract with United terminated in November after conducting an explosive TV interview wherein he criticized supervisor Erik ten Hag and the membership’s homeowners, the Glazer household.
Al Nassr, the nine-time Saudi Professional League champions, made a proposal to him in the course of the World Cup, which was held in Qatar in November and December. Nonetheless, the deal was not confirmed till Dec. 30.
Ronaldo flew in to Riyadh’s King Khalid Worldwide Airport on Monday night time, the place he and his household have been greeted by followers, earlier than present process medical exams at Mrsool Park on Tuesday.
The massively formidable switch is anticipated to heap unprecedented deal with Saudi soccer forward of a possible bid to stage the World Cup in 2030, in addition to on Al Nassr, which is little recognized outdoors of Asia.
The Saudis have proven growing curiosity in high-profile soccer. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund accomplished the takeover of Premier League membership Newcastle in 2021 regardless of questions raised about human rights within the oil-rich kingdom and “ sportswashing.”
For Ronaldo, it seemingly brings the curtain down on his profession in elite membership soccer.
Final summer season he needed to maneuver to a membership that was competing within the Champions League after United did not qualify for Europe’s largest membership competitors.
Regardless of hyperlinks with Chelsea, a switch didn’t materialize.
He additionally endured a disappointing World Cup, which noticed him dropped by Portugal for its final two video games earlier than leaving the sphere in tears following a loss to Morocco within the quarterfinals.
Ronaldo solely managed three targets for United in 16 video games this season, with a type of coming from the penalty spot.
Nonetheless, there have nonetheless been landmarks.
He scored his 700th membership profession purpose towards Everton in October and have become the primary male participant to attain in 5 World Cups together with his penalty in Portugal’s 3-2 win towards Ghana within the group stage.
Ronaldo will purpose to win a league title in a fourth totally different nation after successful seven home championships in England, Spain and Italy mixed.
“I’m coming right here to win, play, get pleasure from and be a part of the success of the nation and the tradition of the nation,” he mentioned.
Ronaldo was handed a two-match suspension by the English Soccer Affiliation in November for knocking a cell phone out of the hand of a supporter following a recreation towards Everton final April.
He had already left United by the point of the ruling, however the FA mentioned the suspension can be transferred to any new membership.