Al Nassr fans are celebrating as they welcome Cristiano Ronaldo to their club. The super soccer star has signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr FC as a free agent after terminating his contract with Manchester United. The Portuguese superstar is expected to earn around £173 million per year in Saudi Arabia, making him the highest-paid soccer player in history.
Ronaldo left Manchester United last month following an explosive television interview in which he said he felt betrayed by the club and did not respect their Dutch manager Erik ten Hag. The Saudi club announced the signing on Sunday, saying it was “history in the making.”
Al Nassr issued a statement saying Ronaldo will join on a deal until 2025, but did not disclose any financial details. Ronaldo said he was excited to “discover a new football league in a different country.”
Ronaldo rejoined Manchester United last year on a two-year deal from Juventus. After a successful first season, he fell out of favor with new boss Erik Ten Hag and was suspended by the club after refusing to come on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur. In his first stint with United, Ronaldo played 292 games and scored 118 goals. In his second stint, he scored 27 goals in 54 games.
The 37-year-old had a disappointing World Cup in Qatar, scoring just once from the penalty spot before being eliminated by Morocco in the quarterfinals. It means Ronaldo will finish his career without a single-goal contribution in World Cup knockout stages. Al Nassr hopefully will revive his magic on field.
Know about Al Nassr FC who signed Ronaldo
Al-Nassr FC is a professional soccer club based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The club was founded in 1955 and has a long history in Saudi Arabian football. Al-Nassr has won numerous titles, including 13 Saudi Professional League titles and six Saudi Crown Prince Cup titles. The club has also reached the semifinals of the Asian Club Championship twice.
Al Nassr plays its home matches at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, which has a capacity of 67,000. The club has a strong and passionate fan base, and its matches are often attended by large crowds.
In recent years, Al Nassr has made headlines for signing high-profile players, including former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who signed a two-and-a-half year deal with the club as a free agent in 2021. Al Nassr has also signed other notable players such as Bafétimbi Gomis and Nordin Amrabat in recent years.
Cristiano Ronaldo Milestones
Cristiano Ronaldo is a professional soccer player who has had a highly successful and decorated career. Some highlights of his career include:
Ronaldo began his professional career with Sporting Lisbon in Portugal before moving to Manchester United in 2003. He played for Manchester United for six seasons, winning three Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League.
In 2009, Ronaldo transferred to Real Madrid, where he played for nine seasons. During his time at Real Madrid, he won four Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, and three Club World Cup titles.
Ronaldo has won numerous individual awards throughout his career, including five Ballon d’Or awards (awarded to the best player in the world) and three Golden Foot awards (awarded to the best attacking player in Europe).
Ronaldo has scored over 700 professional goals in his career, making him one of the top goalscorers in soccer history.
In addition to his club career, Ronaldo has also had success with the Portuguese national team. He has scored over 100 goals for Portugal and helped lead the team to victory at the European Championship in 2016.
Ronaldo is known for his impressive physical abilities, scoring ability, and work ethic. He is considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time and has a huge following around the world.