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After completing his two-and-a-half-year contract — that will pay a mammoth $75 million per year — to move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo was unveiled to their fans in the country’s capital of Riyadh on Tuesday.
The 37-year-old Portuguese star saw his contract with Manchester United terminated at the beginning of the 2022 World Cup due to an inflammatory interview with Piers Morgan where he questioned manager Erik ten Hag’s authority while expressing other frustrations with the club. Still, he received a king’s reception in Saudi Arabia.
In that same interview, Ronaldo agreed with Morgan’s statement, “If it were about the money, you’d be in Saudi Arabia earning this king’s ransom, but that’s not what motivates you. You want to keep at the top.” That was foreshadowing for what was to come in Saudi Arabia as only a month after that interview, Ronaldo traded in his UEFA Champions League pursuits for Asian Champions League hopes with one of the Saudi Pro League’s top clubs.
In Ronaldo’s introductory press conference on Tuesday, the former Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus forward said he turned down many clubs before coming to Al Nassr.
“Nobody knows this, but I had many opportunities in Europe, Brazil, Australia, the U.S., and even Portugal. Many clubs tried to sign me. I gave my word to this club,” Ronaldo said. “I want to give a different vision of this country and football. This is why I took this opportunity.”
It was revealed that Sporting Kansas City in MLS made a run at Ronaldo with a competitive package as multiple meetings were held with his team, according to MLS insider Tom Bogert. But CBS Sports also reported interest in Ronaldo’s services around Europe was scant following his Manchester United dismissal.
Al Nassr’s 25,000-seat stadium was packed with fans Tuesday waiting to get a glimpse of his arrival. On his first walk onto the pitch,…
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