It was a perfect ceremony, befitting a Cristiano Ronaldo who is about to retire as a millionaire, which he continues to deny. The presentation at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia did not have the sporting grandeur that CR7 once experienced in Madrid or Turin, but it did have affection and adoration qb able to return the lost smile to the Portuguese who never tired of thanking him for the chance to play again, be happy and enjoy Saudi football.
In a triple presentation – to the world in the press room, to his colleagues in the dressing room and to the fans on the pitch – Ronaldo knew what to say at every moment. It was limited to simple and impactful statements and without hidden messages or dubious messages.
The arrival at Mrsool Park Stadium in Riyadh was worthy of a member of the royal family that rules the country and funded the contract already considered the largest in football history: 500 million euros until June 2025! Nothing special by the standards of an alien football: “I am a unique player, I have broken all records, it is a good chance, this contract is unique, but I am a unique player, so it is normal.”
Musalli al Muammar, president of Al-Nassr, acknowledged that the agreement is “not limited to the football played” and considered it “normal” that CR7 is the highest paid in the world: “The agreement is commercially beneficial for us in terms of profitability You will learn many things in the coming days.” And without getting into the most sensitive subject, the possible use of the image of the captain of the Portuguese national team in Saudi Arabia’s candidacy for the 2030 World Cup – the same one that Portugal wants to host together with Spain and Ukraine – the leader of the Riyadh crest, also confided that Ronaldo “asked during the negotiations to be treated equally with his teammates, regarding prices and club regulations”.
And as proof of that, the image of CR7 training with the new team is Hollywood-style after the presentation. He scored a goal and delighted around 30,000 fans, six times the usual matchday crowd.
Europe lags behind
The check that convinced him to move to Riyadh after he finished his contract with Manchester United may be bold, but the player preferred to talk about other values. Like himself, he showed little interest, concern or even bother with “little informed opinions” about football and life in Saudi Arabia. “I’m not worried about what they say. I made the decision, I have a responsibility, but I’m very happy to be here,” said CR7, not forgetting the magic words: “Many talk, but know nothing. In the 2022 World Cup, the only team to become champions [Argentina] went to Saudi Arabia. For me this is not the end of my career, I want to change.”
And to those accusing him of pandering to a dictatorship’s millions, Ronaldo responded with an invitation to look back to the recent past and look at the 33 collective trophies and more than 40 individual accolades in his 20-year career . “In Europe my work was done. I won everything, I played in the most important clubs. Now it’s a new challenge. Happy with this opportunity, to help develop football and the next generations. It’s a challenge, I feel prepared,” he said Cristiano Ronaldo, in his first statements as a player of Al-Nassr.
Asked about the decision to play for Saudi Arabia, the Portuguese explained the decision: “It is a great opportunity to change the mentality of the new generations. I can say that I have had many opportunities in Europe, many clubs: in Brazil, Australia, USA… even in Portugal! Several clubs tried, but I gave the club the floor, not just to develop the club and the country. I know what I want and what I don’t want. It’s a good chance to help improve so many things. Even in Portugal! from a women’s point of view. A lot of people don’t know, but Al-Nassr has a women’s team.”
The 37-year-old also praised the competitiveness of the Saudi league. Al-Nassr is in first place on matchday 11 (see box): “I came here to win, to play, to enjoy, to be part of the success of the country and the culture of the country. I am here with all the people at the club, the I want to enjoy, laugh and play,” said CR7.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano)
The Ronaldo Effect…
Coach Rudi García was at the presentation and recalled that “Cristiano is one of the best in history, a legend” and was “very happy” to have him on the team, although he acknowledges that he has nothing to teach him. The Frenchman also joked that the press room was full instead of the usual “two or three” journalists: “Please, everyone is invited to come here after the games.”
The presentation ended with the press room, a mix of guests and some journalists, imitating Cristiano Ronaldo’s cry, the famous “siiiuuu”, before being invited to meet his colleagues in the dressing room. The players of the Saudi team did not hide their enthusiasm at the presence of the Portuguese. It was up to goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah to welcome him: “Welcome. We are very happy with you. We hope to achieve a lot with you. We are very happy.” CR7 returned the kindness in English: “I’m happy here. It’s a great challenge to come to Asia. I’m here to win. I’ve seen some matches, I saw the connection between players, I really liked it I’m here to help the team win things, have fun and give my best as always.”
And after getting dressed in what will be his new home until 2025 (if he fulfills his contract), he took to the pitch for the expected shower of affection to shouts of “Siiiuuu” and “Ronaldo, Ronaldo”. And for the third time, Ronaldo spoke about the “pleasure” and “honor” of being an Al-Nassr player and the way the fans received him, promising to “give everything for the club” and giving them “happy people” by enjoying the game in the Saudi league and “helping the country to get better, not only in football, but also in the women’s field”…
The player lightly touched one of the sensitive points. And said no more. Cristiano closed the presentation by signing some balls before kicking them into the stands… always closely supervised by a security guard and his personal manager Ricardo Regufe (to whom they attribute the brokerage of the deal, with a commission of 30 million euros). And ended the presentation with the phrase al alamy – nickname by which the Riyadh club is known and which means worldwide.
Premiere against Pepa on Thursday?
The Portuguese coach of Al Taee, who faces Al-Nassr in the 12th round of the Saudi league on Thursday, wants Cristiano Ronaldo on the other side. “It’s a huge pride to add a player like Cristiano to the report. For me, being the first experience away, it’s a great reason to be proud of what’s happening. I’d really like to He is playing. There is talk of a possible penalty here, but I liked that he was on the game sheet. It was a historic moment,” Pepa told Sport TV, without clarifying the reason for the penalty.
Led by Rudi Garcia, and with Talisca (ex-Benfica) and Aboubakar (ex-FC Porto) as big stars so far, Al Nassr rose to first place in the league, in the final round, after signing CR7. After 11 rounds they have 26 points, one more than Al Shabab (they have one game less), looking for their 9th title.
Source: DN
