RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo has been unveiled as the new superstar signing Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr on Tuesday, with the team president saying the Portugal great deserves to be the highest-paid player on the planet.
Ronaldo said he turned down “a lot of clubs” around the world to complete one of the most amazing transfers. in sports history, which could reportedly earn him as much as $200 million a year.
Al Nassr president Musalli Almuammar did not confirm the exact figures in the two-and-a-half-year contract.
“He is the best player in the history of football, so it is normal that he is the highest in terms of cost or salary,” Almuammar said. “This is something that he really deserves, so the amount of money that he’s going to take, he really deserves it.”
Ronaldo was introduced to thousands of fans at Al Nassr’s Mrsool Park against a backdrop of fireworks and smoke machines.
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus striker will play in the Saudi Pro League after turning down offers from Europe, North America and beyond.
“I am very proud to make this great decision in my life. In Europe my work is done. I won everything and played for the most important clubs in Europe. This is a new challenge,” Ronaldo said at a press conference where he alone answered questions from the emcee, despite sitting in a room full of journalists.
The 37-year-old Portuguese international, who has won five Ballon d’Ors for best player in the world and five Champions League titles, will play outside Europe for the first time in his long career.
“Nobody knows, but I had many opportunities in Europe, Brazil, Australia, the United States, even Portugal, many clubs tried to sign me. I gave my word to this club,” added Ronaldo. “I want to give a different vision of this country and of football. That’s why I took advantage of this opportunity.”
Excitement built throughout the day leading up to Ronaldo’s unveiling, with fans arriving at the stadium early in anticipation of his arrival.
Large video screens on the outside walls of the pitch showed him in Al Nassr’s yellow and blue jersey, along with the words “Hala Ronaldo”.
When he finally took the field at the 25,000-capacity stadium, the crowd chanted his name shrilly.
“I want to make everyone happy. This is my goal,” she said.
Ronaldo had his United contract terminated in November after conducting an explosive television interview in which he criticized manager Erik ten Hag and the club’s owners, the Glazer family.
Al Nassr, the nine-time Saudi Pro League champion, made him an offer during the World Cup, which was held in Qatar in November and December. However, the deal was not confirmed until December 30.
Ronaldo flew into Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Monday night, where he and his family were greeted by fans, before undergoing medical tests at Mrsool Park on Tuesday.
The hugely ambitious transfer is expected to spark unprecedented focus on Saudi football ahead of a potential bid to host the World Cup in 2030, as well as on Al Nassr, which is little known outside of Asia.
The Saudis have shown a growing interest in high-profile soccer. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund completed its acquisition of Premier League club Newcastle in 2021 despite questions raised about human rights in the oil-rich kingdom and “sports laundering”..”
For Ronaldo, the curtain is likely to come down on his elite club football career.
Last summer he wanted to move to a club that was competing in the Champions League after United failed to qualify for Europe’s biggest club competition.
Despite the links to Chelsea, a transfer did not materialise.
He also endured a disappointing World Cup, in which Portugal dropped him in their last two games before leaving the field in tears following a loss to Morocco in the quarterfinals.
Ronaldo has only managed three goals for United in 16 games this season, one of them from the penalty spot.
However, there have still been milestones.
He scored his 700th career goal for the club against Everton in October and became the first male player to score in five World Cups with his penalty in Portugal’s 3-2 win against Ghana in the group stage .
Ronaldo will try to win a league title in a fourth different country after winning seven domestic championships in England, Spain and Italy combined.
“I come here to win, to play, to enjoy and to be part of the success of the country and the culture of the country,” he said.
Ronaldo was given a two-match ban by the English Football Association in November for knocking a mobile phone out of the hand of a supporter after a game against Everton last April.
He had already left United when the ruling was handed down, but the FA said the suspension would transfer to any new club.
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