Cristiano Ronaldo was unveiled by Al-Nassr to much fanfare on Tuesday, the same day his old rival Lionel Messi returned to Paris Saint-Germain after winning the World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo signed, then blasted footballs into Row Z of the compact Mrsool Park stadium.
“Amazing kicks…” announced the host, as Ronaldo felt his groin, and soaked up the rapturous chanting from locals, and had a go shouting back at them in Arabic.
As unveilings go this was no Bernabeu or Old Trafford. A 25,000 seater stadium in western Riyadh charging 15 Saudi Riyals, about £3, a ticket to get in. But they had a good go. Fireworks, a public medical, pulling on his new yellow and blue shirt, and declaring the Saudi Premier League “very competitive.”
He could make his debut against Al-Ta’ee on Thursday. Ronaldo is in a very different footballing world now. But with the richest contract in history for comfort.
It’s worth £175m over two and a half years, including his image rights which the Kingdom, who want to host the 2030 World Cup, will use. As Ronaldo, 37, said: “I am a unique player so it is good coming here. My work is done in Europe. I won everything and played for the most important clubs in Europe.
“I beat all the records there and I want to beat them here. This contract is unique because I am a unique player.” Ronaldo was unashamedly announced as “world’s greatest player” by the Saudi club.
In France, Lionel Messi quietly returned to training with PSG without fanfare because his team mates had the day off. After winning the World Cup with Argentina to complete his set of trophies, he’s made a “verbal pact” to stay with PSG for another two seasons.
Ronaldo insisted he could have chosen to sign for clubs everywhere. “I can now say I had many opportunities in Europe, many clubs in Brazil, in Australia and US and Portugal tried to sign me.
“But I gave my word to this club for the opportunity not just to develop football but this amazing country. For me it is a good challenge. I know what I want and what I don’t want as well. It is a chance to change and help with my knowledge and experience to grow many important points. Also women’s football as well.”
Could the Ronaldo brand be being used for “sportswashing” with Saudi under scrutiny for human rights?
The question wasn’t asked, but pointedly Ronaldo was on message and said: “I want to give a different vision of this club and country. This is why I took this opportunity.”
Saudi has a very young population obsessed by football, and the locals loved his arrival. The government have put sport at the forefront of its vision, to combat obesity. He added: “I told you this is a great opportunity not only in football but also to change the mentality of the new generation.
“I have an opportunity to develop football but also the young generation. It is a challenge but I feel very happy and very proud.”
No questions were invited from journalists present at the unveiling. Ronaldo’s new coach, Rudi Garcia, joked at the number of reporters at the press conference: “Usually we have three or four journalists! You are welcome to every game to talk about Cristiano’s goals.”
“So far it feels very good. I am so proud to make this big decision in my life, football. When I make my decision my family always supports me especially my kids and wife. The welcome was amazing, we feel good here. Saudi Arabia people, they are lovely with me and my family.”
