Ronaldo storms Riyadh with helpers and security personnel
Ronaldo storms Riyadh with helpers and security personnel Following a shocking transfer for more than €200 million (S$286 million), Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo landed in Riyadh ahead of his spectacular debut in front of thousands of supporters at Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr club on Tuesday.
According to state-run television station Al Ekhbariya, the 37-year-old five-time Ballon d’Or winner arrived in the capital late on Monday and is staying at a posh hotel with his entourage.
An insider told AFP that “he brought a large team of helpers and even a private security service.”
According to authorities, Ronaldo, who left Manchester United under fire after criticizing the team in a TV interview, was scheduled to make an appearance at the 25,000-seat Mrsool Park Stadium in Riyadh at 7:00 p.m. yesterday (midnight on Tuesday in Singapore).
After Portugal’s quarterfinal defeat from the World Cup in neighboring Qatar, where his great adversary Lionel Messi won the championship with Argentina, comes the latest and maybe last chapter in a remarkable career.
The oil-rich Saudi Arabia has recently entered the worlds of golf, Formula One, boxing, and Ronaldo’s contract until June 2025. They have also acquired English team Newcastle United.
The tactic has been termed “sportswashing” by detractors as an effort by the conservative nation to divert attention from its human rights record.
According to one official who wished to remain unnamed because he was not authorized to talk to the media, Nassr anticipates a packed stadium for the launch.
Ronaldo is by far the most famous player to have played in Saudi Arabia, but other legends like George Weah, Pep Guardiola, and Xavi all spent time there in their latter years of fame.
The nine-time league winners from Saudi Arabia, Al Nassr, dubbed Ronaldo’s signing “more than history in the making,” asserting that he would motivate the rest of the league and maybe even the whole nation.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi Arabian minister of sports, promised in a tweet that he will “help the rest of our clubs for great agreements with worldwide talents shortly.”
Ronaldo’s contract with Man United was terminated at the World Cup as a result of an explosive interview in which he claimed to feel betrayed by the team and to have no respect for coach Erik ten Hag.
The Portuguese attacker, who once made a staggering 31 million euros ($33 million) at Juventus before accepting a pay reduction to re-join United, has long been one of the highest-paid players in sport.
Ronaldo has won five Champions League championships, as well as league championships with Juventus in Italy, Real Madrid in Spain, and Manchester United in England.
In addition, he leads the Champions League and the Portuguese national team, where he won the 2016 Euro, in goals.
With his penalty in the group-stage victory against Ghana in Qatar, he made history by becoming the first player to score at five World Cups.
