Cristiano Ronaldo has completed his move to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr.
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward has signed on a two-year contract.
“I am eager to experience a new football league in a different country. Al Nassr Club’s vision is very inspiring,” Ronaldo said.
Ronaldo, 37, is expected to earn up to £170m a year as part of one of the most lucrative contracts in football history.
Al Nassr’s president, Musli Al Muammar, said: “This is more than history in the making. This is a signing that will not only inspire our club to achieve even greater success but inspire our league, our nation and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves.”
Saudi Arabia has vastly expanded its investment in sport in recent years in a bid to launder its global image and diversify its economy away from oil.
As well as the purchase of Premier League side Newcastle United and breakaway LIV Golf tour, the Middle Eastern kingdom is expected to launch a bid to host the 2030 World Cup.
Related Stories
Ronaldo left Premier League giants United last month following an explosive television interview in which the forward said he felt betrayed by the club and did not respect their Dutch manager Erik ten Hag.
He represented Portugal in Qatar, where he became the first player to score in five World Cups after netting a penalty in his side’s opening Group H game against Ghana. Portugal were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Morocco.
Ronaldo will arrive in Saudi Arabia with a vast collection of club honours after a glittering spell at Spanish giants Real Madrid from 2009-18 where he won two La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, four Champions League titles and three Club World Cups.
He went on to score a club record 451 times for Real and has more than 800 senior goals overall for club and country.
Al Nassr have won the Saudi Pro League nine times, the King’s Cup six times and the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup once.
Ronaldo’s new teammates at the Riyadh-based outfit will include former Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina and the Uzbek international Jaloliddin Masharipov.
Additional reporting by agencies
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/etRgNXL
Post a Comment