At the Al-Nassr unveiling, Cristiano Ronaldo made a mistake by mistaking Saudi Arabia for South Africa with the video viral
The club’s new record-breaking £173 million contract with the captain of Portugal, age 37, was unveiled in Riyadh. As part of the enormous two-year contract, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will play for Al-Nassr, the Saudi Arabian team. However, things didn’t start off well.
Cristiano Ronaldo thinks he’s playing in South Africa and not Saudi Arabia, video goes viral
“For me, coming to South Africa is not the end of my career,” Ronaldo said during the introduction, which was interrupted by cheers from the press conference attendees. “I really don’t care what other people say because I made my choice, and it’s up to me to decide it.”
Since several of the attendees at Ronaldo’s press conference chanted “SIU,” his signature celebration, during the proceedings, it appeared that they were more fans than journalists. Thousands of admirers greeted Ronaldo. A club representative asked all of the football-related questions and asked for a picture afterwards. The present journalists were not allowed to pose their own inquiries.
Ronaldo says he has already conquered Europe.
When Ronaldo decided to play in Asia for the first time, he said that his work in Europe was finished and that he had turned down several offers from all around the world. The earlier reports of a clause in the contract allowing him to join Saudi-owned Newcastle on loan should they make it to the Champions League were swiftly denied.
“My work is completed in Europe,” he declared. “I won everything while playing for the most prominent clubs in Europe, but now Asia brings a new challenge. I can now disclose that I had a tonne of possibilities in Europe, as well as a tonne of clubs in Brazil, Australia, the US, and even Portugal, all of which sought to sign me but nobody knew about it.
Before being introduced to the fans, the former Manchester United striker was led into the locker room to greet his new teammates. Due to an upsetting interview with Piers Morgan last year, his Old Trafford contract was terminated.
Ronaldo receives a grand welcome
Fans who had purchased tickets were present for the brief ceremony on the field, where Ronaldo thanked everyone for their welcome and expressed his happiness at being at the club. After that, he took part in a photo session with the Al-Nassr women’s squad and academy before kicking numerous autographed footballs into the stands.
Ronaldo has earlier said that Saudi Arabia’s growth of the “feminine side” of the game was a major factor in the choice.