Cristiano Ronaldo assumed on Tuesday that going to Al Nassr will not mean the end of his career. He expressed pride in the move to Saudi Arabia, revealing that he had received at least one invitation from Portuguese football.
“Coming to Saudi Arabia is not the end of my career. I don’t worry about what people say. I know the league is very competitive, people don’t know, but I know because I have a lot of matches seen.” What I want is to play if you can play the day after tomorrow [quinta-feira] I can now, if the coach wants it”he said.
With coach Rudi Garcia by his side, Ronaldo said at a ceremony at the club’s stadium that this is “a great opportunity”, assuring he had invitations from Portugal, the United States, Brazil and Australia but would rather sign for Al Nassr.
“I had a lot of opportunities in Europe, a lot of clubs, from Brazil, Australia, the US, even Portugal, a lot of clubs tried to sign me. But I gave this club a chance. It’s a good challenge, I know what I want and which I don’t.” do not want “revealed.
“I feel very good. I’m proud of this decision I made in my life. My work in Europe is done, I won everything, I played in the best clubs. It’s a new challenge, I’m grateful for this opportunity. help Saudi football, to help future generations, women’s football”he added.
The Portugal national team captain said he was “a unique player”, recalling that he has already broken many records and wants to keep winning.
“I came here to win, to play, to help the success of the club, of the country”he stressed.
Thousands of supporters greet CR7 at the ceremony
Thousands of supporters hailed footballer Cristiano Ronaldo as he presented himself as a new player for Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, with the Portuguese presumed to be excited about the new step in his career.
Already after 8 p.m. local time (5 p.m. in mainland Portugal), Ronaldo stepped practically full on the lawn of Mrsool Park in Riyadh for the first time to receive the Portuguese.
As the crowd clamored for Ronaldo in unison, the Portuguese assured that he was “enthusiastic” about coming to the club, guaranteeing that he “wanted to make people happy”.
After a few words on the pitch, Ronaldo signed autographs and kicked some balls on the bench, in addition to taking a photo with youth players and members of the women’s team, receiving his family at the end.
Before taking to the field, Ronaldo was introduced to his new teammates, with whom he will have his first training session today, led by Frenchman Rudi Garcia.
Coach says he wants to make the Portuguese happy
Al Nassr’s coach, Frenchman Rudi Garcia, assumed that his goal is to make Cristiano Ronaldo happy, and assured that it will be easy to train the Portuguese at the Saudi Arabian club.
“[Ronaldo] It’s an example. My goal is to make him happy and satisfied by playing for Al Nassr.”took over the French coach.
Rudi Garcia said he was surprised that so many people attended the Portuguese presentation ceremony in Al Nassr, without the right to questions from journalists. “Cristiano is one of the best players in the world, in the history of football. A legend”.
“It is an honor for me and for Al Nassr to welcome Cristiano. For the Saudi league and Saudi Arabia it is great to have Cristiano here”he said.
The Gallic coach believed that, having already trained many players during his career, “Cristiano will be one of the easiest, because there is not much to learn”, as he wants to win “taking advantage of his experience”.
“We will have time to talk, but the most important thing is out there, it’s green and we want to win there”he concluded.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, is moving to Saudi football after terminating his contract with Manchester United, which he represented for the second time in 2021/22 and 2022/23 after a first spell (2003/2009).
Before starting the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo, who grew up at Sporting and represented Real Madrid (2009/2018) and Juventus (2018/22) between his two spells for the English, believed he felt “betrayed” and disrespected felt by the ‘red devils’ , with whom he scored 145 goals in 346 games.
With 194 games for the Portuguese main team and 118 goals, he adds 451 goals for Real Madrid, in ‘only’ 438 games, and five for Sporting, in 31 games.
Currently led by the Frenchman Rudi Garcia and with the Brazilian Talisca (ex-Benfica) and the Cameroonian Aboubakar (ex-FC Porto), Al Nassr occupies first place in the Saudi League after 11 rounds with 26 points, one more than Al Shabab , which has one match less.
Al Nassr has nine Saudi championship titles, the last of which came in 2018/19.
Source: DN
