What started out as a mere rumor during the World Cup in Qatar 2022, is now getting close to becoming a reality: Cristiano Ronaldo arrived in Riyadh today to sign a multi-million dollar contract with Al Nassr, where it will play until 2025 after parting ways with Manchester United.
The footballer himself did not want this deal to go ahead when it came to light on November 23, as he was focused on playing in the World Cup with the Portugal team, but has now put first and, according to the Spanish press, The representative of the Portuguese champion has reached an agreement to let CR7 play in Saudi Arabia.
Although it had initially emerged that Cristiano’s arrival was in exchange for 200 million euros a season, now the leaders of the Arab club have announced that “The figure will be significantly lower.”
The top scorer in football history (819 and more), as well as top scorer and multiple champion with Real Madrid, will turn 38 in February and is at the sunset of his career. enmity with Erik Tenhag before and with Fernando Santo Subsequently, he ended up with no continuity at Manchester United and was not a starter in the Portuguese team’s important matches at the World Cup.
It is estimated that he will play in Saudi Arabia until his retirement in 2025. and then it will be like ambassador of the Arab country’s candidacy together with Egypt and Greece for the organization of the 2030 World Cup. They will compete with the application of UEFA (Spain-Portugal-Ukraine) and CONMEBOL (Argentina-Uruguay-Paraguay-Chile).
Saudi Arabia’s decision to go to the 2030 World Cup has to do with the so-called “soft power”, the logic of cultural integration used by some Middle Eastern countries to improve their reputation in what is the Western worldview. The phenomenon was considered a success in the Qatari experience, beyond all the questions that were made public before, during and after the World Cup which crowned the Argentine national team.
The designation of the Saudi country as headquarters would allow for the political rehabilitation of Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman and is part of the “Vision 2030” socio-economic reform plan, launched in 2016 and presumably preparing for the post-oil era.
Christian, from conflict to conflict
After the match between Manchester Utd and Tottenham last October, in which Cristiano Ronaldo did not play a single minute and left the field before the end of the matchthe coach of the Red Devils, Erik Ten Hag, sidelined him from subsequent calls. It was the beginning of the end of his second cycle in the giant English club.
“As I have always done throughout my career, I try to live and play with respect for my colleagues, my opponents and my coaches. That hasn’t changed. Respect has always played a very important role in my career. I started very young and the examples of older and more experienced players have always been very important to me. Unfortunately this is not always possible and sometimes the heat of the moment gets the better of us. Right now, I feel I need to continue to work hard at Carrington, support my teammates and be ready for whatever happens.”
However, his situation was getting worse and in an interview with journalist Piers Morgan he once again threw heavy ammunition at DT: “I feel betrayed. I don’t respect Ten Hag.” Moreover, he fired further: “I feel some people didn’t want me at Manchester United, not just this year, but last season too.”He added.
Arrived in Qatar to play in the World Cup, the club’s problems extended to his national team. As soon as he reached the territory of Qatar, the rudeness of Bruno Fernandeshis former teammate at Manchester United, was public and exposed the internship.
As happened in England, he was left out of the starting line-up in the round of 16 against Switzerland and had conflicts in his relationship with the coach Fernando Santo began to come to light. His team won 6-1, he didn’t celebrate with his teammates and the controversies, far from dissipating from him, became more and more evident.
It all ended with the defeat in the quarterfinals against Morocco, always as a substitute, and tears at the end because it was, most likely, his last participation in a World Cup, beyond the fact that he could continue to wear the shirt of his national team.
His wife, Georgina Rodriguez, harshly attacked the coach in an Instagram post: “Today your friend and coach made a bad decision. That friend for whom you have so much admiration and respect”start by saying the post. “You can’t underestimate the best player in the world, the most powerful weapon. You can’t even defend someone who doesn’t deserve it”, concluded.
Source: Clarin
Jason Root is the go-to source for sports coverage at News Rebeat. With a passion for athletics and an in-depth knowledge of the latest sports trends, Jason provides comprehensive and engaging analysis of the world of sports.