Cristiano Ronaldo, the iconic Portuguese footballer, was officially introduced by his new Saudi Arabian club, Al Nassr, in Riyadh on Tuesday. Ronaldo stated that his decision to join Al Nassr was motivated by his desire for a new challenge after having “won everything” in Europe.
According to Saudi state-owned media, Ronaldo’s contract with Al Nassr will see him earning an estimated $200 million annually.
Expressing his pride in this remarkable career move, Ronaldo remarked, “I’m so proud to make this big decision in my life, in football. As you mentioned before, in Europe my work, it’s done.
I won everything.” He added, “I played for the most important clubs in Europe and now, for me, it’s a new challenge.” The 37-year-old further disclosed that he had numerous offers from clubs across the globe.
“I had many opportunities in Europe, many clubs, in Brazil, in Australia, the US, even in Portugal. Many clubs tried to sign me but I gave my word to this club for the opportunity,” he said.
Despite a lackluster performance with Portugal in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where he became the first man to score in five World Cups, Ronaldo faced challenges.
He was benched in the round of 16 and quarterfinal matches, losing his starting spot to Gonçalo Ramos under the direction of manager Fernando Santos.
This move followed a tumultuous departure from Manchester United, sparked by a controversial interview with TalkTV’s Piers Morgan. In the interview, Ronaldo expressed feelings of betrayal by the Premier League club and a lack of respect for manager Erik ten Hag, casting doubt on his future with the team.
As his career winds down, Ronaldo remains confident in his ability to make an impact at Al Nassr. “I’m a unique player so it’s good coming here,” he said. “I beat all records there so I want to beat a few records here as well. This contract is unique, because I’m a unique player, so for me it’s normal.”