Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo joins Saudi Arabia club Al Nassr

Ronaldo’s contract with Al Nassr has been estimated by media to be price greater than 200m euros ($214.5m).

Cristiano Ronaldo poses for a photograph together with his new membership jersey [Al Nassr Club/EPA-EFE] (EPA)

Soccer famous person Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Saudi Arabian membership Al Nassr on a two-and-a-half-year contract, the Riyadh-based group has introduced.

The Portuguese ahead left Manchester United final month following an explosive tv interview through which the 37-year-old mentioned he felt betrayed by the membership and didn't respect their Dutch supervisor Erik ten Hag.

Al Nassr posted an image on social media of Ronaldo on Saturday holding up the group’s jersey, with the membership hailing the deal as “historical past within the making”.

“This can be a signing that won't solely encourage our membership to realize even better success however encourage our league, our nation and future generations, girls and boys to be the perfect model of themselves,” the membership mentioned in a tweet.

Historical past within the making. This can be a signing that won't solely encourage our membership to realize even better success however encourage our league, our nation and future generations, girls and boys to be the perfect model of themselves. Welcome @Cristiano to your new house @AlNassrFCpic.twitter.com/oan7nu8NWC

— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) December 30, 2022

“I'm lucky that I've gained the whole lot I got down to win in European soccer and really feel now that that is the fitting second to share my expertise in Asia,” Ronaldo mentioned.

“I'm trying ahead to becoming a member of my new group mates and along with them assist the Membership to realize success.”

Al Nassr mentioned the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will be a part of on a deal till 2025 however didn't disclose any monetary particulars. Ronaldo’s contract with the group has been estimated by media to be price greater than 200 million euros ($214.5m).

Ronaldo will arrive in Saudi Arabia with an enormous assortment of membership honours after a glittering spell at Spanish giants Actual Madrid from 2009-18 the place he gained two La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, 4 Champions League titles and three Membership World Cups.

He went on to attain a membership document 451 occasions for Actual Madrid and has greater than 800 senior objectives total for membership and nation.

Ronaldo claimed two Serie A titles and a Copa Italia trophy in three years at Juventus earlier than rejoining Manchester United with whom he had bagged three Premier League crowns, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Champions League and the World Cup.

He performed for Portugal in Qatar, the place he turned the primary male participant to attain in 5 World Cups after netting a penalty in his facet’s opening Group H recreation in opposition to Ghana.

Portugal have been knocked out within the quarter-finals by Morocco and Ronaldo spent a lot match time on the bench, resulting in hypothesis the footballer’s star standing was in decline.

Cristiano Ronaldo on the Portuguese bench through the group’s conflict with Morocco at Al Thumama Stadium on December 10, 2022 [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

Ronaldo mentioned Qatar would most likely be his final World Cup as he plans to retire at 40, with the transfer to Saudi Arabia more likely to mark the swan tune within the profession of one of many recreation’s best present gamers alongside Lionel Messi.

“That is greater than historical past within the making,” Al Nassr Soccer Membership President Musalli Almuammar mentioned. “This can be a signing that won't solely encourage our membership to realize even better success however encourage our league, our nation and future generations.”

The Saudi Arabian membership, who've gained 9 Saudi Professional Premier League titles, are hoping Ronaldo will help them win one other home league title and a primary on the AFC Asian Champions League.

Saudi Arabia’s nationwide group earned its largest worldwide win ever on the World Cup in Qatar final month when it beat eventual champion Argentina in its first group-stage recreation, however then failed to succeed in the knockout phases of the event.