After declaring during his Al-Nassr launching that he had chosen to move to South Africa rather than Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo was left with a very embarrassed expression on his face.
Cristiano Ronaldo completed a high-profile move to Al-Nassr last week, signing a contract that would keep him there until 2025 and is valued at about £173 million. This move marks the conclusion of his career in Europe.
During a press conference with the assembled journalists, it was announced officially that he will be playing for Al-Nassr. After that, he was introduced to supporters during a glamorous ceremony that took place before an open training session.
When Ronaldo was speaking out against criticism of his move during his introduction news conference, things got off to a rocky start for him when he momentarily forgot which country he was in and started arguing in defense of his decision. He stated that, “Football is a unique sport. Coming to South Africa will not mark the conclusion of my professional life for me. This is the thing that I want to change, and to tell you the truth, I really don’t care what other people think about it”.
Ronaldo has continued to respond angrily to those who have criticized his choice to move to the Middle East. He has also asserted that he has rejected rich offers from throughout the footballing scene. In addition to this, he implied that his function at Al-Nassr was not limited to that of a player but rather that of an unofficial ambassador for both the league and the nation in general.
“I can say now that I had many possibilities in Europe; many clubs in Brazil, Australia, the United States, and even in Portugal; many clubs sought to recruit me,” the five-time winner of the Ballon d’Or remarked.
“But I gave my word to this club for the opportunity to develop not only the football, but also other parts of this beautiful country”.
“For me, it’s a good challenge. But I gave my word to this club for the opportunity to develop not only the football, but also other parts of this amazing country. I am aware of both the things that I desire and those that I do not desire. We are able to develop several essential issues with the help of my knowledge and experience”.
“Al Nassr also have a women’s football squad, so I want to present a new image of the country and the sport, the perspective of everybody,” said the player.
After having his transfer to Al-Nassr officially sanctioned, Ronaldo may not have to hang around for too much longer before making his debut for his new team. On Thursday afternoon, Rudi Garcia’s team will face off against Al-Ta’ee, but if that matchup comes too soon, it is looking increasingly probable that the Portuguese manager will get his first taste of action on the road against Al-Shabab in the middle of January.
Ironically, even before the game against his previous club, Man United, he might already be on the verge of losing one of his new teammates. Vincent Aboubakar, a striker for Al-Nassr, is reportedly a candidate to join the Red Devils on loan during the transfer window in January. Erik ten Hag is reportedly looking to add to his forward options after the departure of the Portuguese in advance of the World Cup.