January 2 – Cristiano Ronaldo will be officially unveiled to Al Nassr fans at their home stadium, Msrool Park, in Riyadh tomorrow (Jan 3).
The club said that “tens of thousands of jubilant fans” are expected to present at the ticketed event.
Ronaldo has signed for Roshn Saudi League leaders Al Nassr in a contract that will cover 2.5 years. Al Nassr are chasing their 18th league title and are currently a point ahead of Al-Shabab who have a game in hand.
Ronaldo shirts with the number 7 have already been on sale in the club shop.
Early December, with the Qatar 2022 World Cup in full swing, Ronaldo was said to be on the verge of a sensational move to Al Nassr for an eye-watering $208 million a year deal.
The 37-year-old, who made history when he became the first player to score in five World Cups in Portugal’s head-to-head with Ghana in Qatar, had his Manchester United contract terminated in November following an explosive TV interview in which he criticised both the club and manager Erik ten Hag saying he felt “betrayed”.
Ronaldo reportedly rejected a move to Saudi Arabia last summer and reports are that he was offered a similar amount of money to join the MLS.
The Portuguese superstar has scored more 800 goals for club and country, has won five UEFA Champions League titles, four Club World Cups, seven league titles in England, Spain and Italy, becoming the first player in history to have lifted the league title in the three countries. With Portugal he won the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and the UEFA Nations Cup in 2019.
Al Nassr have been a leading club in Saudi Arabia but are chasing their first AFC Champions League triumph. Ronaldo is expected to be the player to make the difference in that title chase.
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