Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo parted ways with Manchester United in November and it didn’t take long before the offers started rolling in, including one from one of Saudi Arabia’s most successful clubs, Al Nassr. Turns out, the thirty-seven-year-old Portuguese legend was listening and he has now signed a contract with the club for a staggering amount of money.
Per ESPN, Ronaldo has signed a deal with Al Nassr through 2025 that will reportedly pay him $75 million per year.
“I am excited to experience a new football league in a different country,” Ronaldo said in Al-Nassr’s statement announcing the deal.
“The vision of what Al Nassr are doing and developing in Saudi Arabia both in terms of men’s and women’s football is very inspiring. We can see from Saudi Arabia’s recent performance at the World Cup that this is a country with big football ambitions and a lot of potential.
“I am fortunate that I have won everything I set out to win in European football and feel now that this is the right moment to share my experience in Asia. I am looking forward to joining my new teammates and together with them help the Club to achieve success.”
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is coming off a mixed-bag showing in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He became the first male player to score in five World Cups but their run ended in a 1-0 loss to Morocco in the quarterfinals.
“This is more than history in the making,” Al-Nassr president Musalli Almuammar said in the statement. “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.
“He is a special footballer and a special person whose impact is felt far beyond football. Cristiano is joining a club with big ambitions, a competitive club amongst the very best in Asia and will be welcomed to a country that is making massive progress on and off the pitch with opportunities for all.
“But first and foremost, we can’t wait to see him in the number 7 shirt of Al Nassr doing what he does best, scoring goals, winning titles and bringing joy to those who love the beautiful game.”
[ESPN]
