Cristiano Ronaldo signs with Saudi club Al-Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr after leaving Manchester United in controversial trend, the club introduced Friday.

Ronaldo signed a contract by the summer time of 2025 and, in line with experiences, will obtain $75 million per yr to make him the best paid participant in historical past. Sources didn’t dispute that determine to ESPN.

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“I am excited to experience a new football league in a different country,” Ronaldo mentioned in Al-Nassr’s assertion saying the deal.

“The vision of what Al Nassr are doing and developing in Saudi Arabia both in terms of men’s and women’s football is very inspiring. We can see from Saudi Arabia’s recent performance at the World Cup that this is a country with big football ambitions and a lot of potential.

“I’m lucky that I’ve gained every part I got down to win in European soccer and really feel now that that is the precise second to share my expertise in Asia. I’m wanting ahead to becoming a member of my new teammates and collectively with them assist the Club to attain success.”

Ronaldo forced his way out of Old Trafford last month, mutually terminating his contract following a contentious TV interview.

Sources told ESPN that the 37-year-old trained alone at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground earlier this month as he prepared to make a decision on his future following Portugal’s exit from the World Cup.

الرياضي الأعظـم عالميًا 🌏
يـوقع رسميًا لـ #العالمي 🤩#رونالدو_نصراوي pic.twitter.com/BBq469mAYh

— نادي النصر السعودي (@AlNassrFC) December 30, 2022

Ronaldo endured mixed fortunes at the tournament in Qatar, becoming the first male player to score in five World Cups but coming on only as a second-half substitute as Portugal lost 1-0 to Morocco in the quarterfinals.

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The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was coy about his international future following that defeat, saying he would “by no means flip my again on my teammates and my nation” but adding that he would “let time be a superb adviser and permit everybody to attract their very own conclusions.”

Earlier this month United boss Erik ten Hag said the club were “seeking to the long run” after the forward’s departure, explaining that Ronaldo was “gone and it is the previous.”

Al-Nassr, who are based in Riyadh, play in the Saudi Pro League and have the second most top-flight league titles in the country’s history.

“This is greater than historical past within the making,” Al-Nassr president Musalli Almuammar said in a statement. “This is a signing that won’t solely encourage our club to attain even larger success however encourage our league, our nation and future generations, girls and boys to be the perfect model of themselves.

“He is a special footballer and a special person whose impact is felt far beyond football. Cristiano is joining a club with big ambitions, a competitive club amongst the very best in Asia and will be welcomed to a country that is making massive progress on and off the pitch with opportunities for all.

“But at the start, we won’t wait to see him within the quantity 7 shirt of Al Nassr doing what he does finest, scoring targets, successful titles and bringing pleasure to those that love the attractive sport.”