By Victor Kanayo
Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo has been officially unveiled as an Al Nassr player in Saudi Arabia on a two-year mega contract.
Announcing the deal on Friday night, Al Nassr, nine-time Saudi Pro League champions described the signing as “history in the making”.
The club said it would “inspire our league, nation and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves”.
Ronaldo will turn 38 in January 2023.
He left Manchester United in November 2022 following an explosive television interview in which the forward said he felt betrayed by the Old Trafford club and did not respect their Dutch Manager Erik ten Hag.
“I am eager to experience a new football league in a different country. Al Nassr Club’s vision is very inspiring,” the Saudi outfit quoted Ronaldo as saying.
Ronaldo joins Saudi Arabia club with a vast collection of club honours after a glittering spell at Spanish giants Real Madrid from 2009-18 where he won two La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, four Champions League titles and three Club World Cups.
He went on to score a club record 451 times for Real and has more than 800 senior goals overall for club and country.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also claimed two Serie A titles and a Copa Italia trophy in three years at Juventus before rejoining United where he had won three Premier League crowns, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Champions League and Club World Cup.
Ronaldo featured for Portugal at the just concluded 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he made history by becoming the first man to score at five different global soccer competition with his strike in his side’s opening win against Ghana.
