Cristiano Ronaldo, considered at 37 as one of the greatest footballers of all time, was introduced to supporters of the Saudi club Al-Nassr, whose wealthy and ambitious owners see his signature as a huge spotlight.
The five-time Ballon d’Or and five-time Champions League winner, who broke with Manchester United at the start of the World Cup, signed up until June 2025 for an overall sum estimated at 200 million euros. Saudi Arabia, a desert country of 35 million inhabitants, is shaken by the “Ronaldomania” since the announcement of his recruitment.
Win the Asian Champions League
Whether Cristiano Ronaldo is not the first aging football star to join a Gulf club, never before has a player of his caliber signed in the region.
With this big blow, Al-Nassr, whose Instagram account has gained millions of subscribers in a few hours, intends to give a serious boost to a team founded in 1955, weaned from the national title since 2019 and eager to put on a good show. in the Asian Champions League, which escapes him: his Saudi rival Al-Hilal is the defending champion and the most successful club.
“This transfer will not only inspire our club to achieve even greater success, but it will inspire our league, our country and future generations,” wrote the club on Twitter which plays in the Saudi Pro League. The largest country in the Middle East is following in the footsteps of Qatar, which has invested heavily in football. In the early 2000s, Doha was the most popular place for pre-retired football stars, with comfortable salaries, to gently end a busy career.
Saudi Arabia bought English club Newcastle for 80% a little over a year ago. This Gulf country dreams of the 2030 World Cup in co-organization with Greece and Egypt.
With Cameroonian Vincent Aboubakar
“CR7”, with its extraordinary track record, acts as a gondola head for a project that wants to be bigger. Al-Nassr also dreams of enlisting the Croatian midfielder Luka Modric or the French midfielder from Chelsea N’Golo Kanté.
The resounding arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo has drawn light to the Saudi petromonarchy, present in high-level sport via Formula 1, boxing or golf, and therefore British football via a consortium.
Within the yellow and blue club, Ronaldo will be led by Frenchman Rudi Garcia and will rub shoulders with former Ligue 1 residents such as Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina, former Nice (from 2008 to 2014), Brazilian midfielder Luiz Gustavo (Marseille) and Cameroonian striker Vincent Aboubakar (Lorient). Other foreign coaches, including Fabio Cannavaro, winner of the Ballon d’Or in 2006, and Artur Jorge, former coach of Portugal and Switzerland, have passed through the club.