Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr on a 2-1/2 year contract, the club announced on Friday. Ronaldo’s future had been up in the air for a while. His Manchester United contract was mutually terminated last month after an explosive interview with the British broadcaster Piers Morgan.
Al Nassr issued a statement saying the five-time Ballon D’or winner will join on a deal until 2025 but did not disclose any financial details. Ronaldo’s contract has been estimated by the media to be worth more than INR 1775 crore. Ronaldo said after joining that he has won everything in Europe and now it’s the right time to share his experience in Asia.
“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,” Ronaldo said in the statement. I am looking forward to joining my new team mates and together with them help the Club to achieve success.” Ronaldo was quoted as saying.
Ronaldo is one of the greatest record-holder
The record goal-scorer in the history of the top European Cup competition, the UEFA Champions League, will now pursue his career on a different continent. He went on to score a club record 451 times for Real Madrid and has more than 800 senior goals overall for club and country.
Ronaldo claimed two Serie A titles and a Copa Italia trophy in three years at Juventus before rejoining United with whom he had bagged three Premier League crowns, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Champions League, and Club World Cup. The Saudi Arabian club, who have won nine Saudi Pro Premier League titles, are hoping Ronaldo can help them win another domestic league title and the first AFC Asian Champions League.
Recently Ronaldo played for Portugal in FIFA World Cup 2022 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.
