'Unique' Ronaldo welcome at new Saudi club
Portuguese superstar and five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo arrives on the pitch of the Mrsool Park stadium in Riyadh where the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr is set to unveil the biggest recruit in its history.
The packed, 25,000-capacity stadium erupted when Ronaldo, dressed in Al Nassr's yellow and blue kit, walked on the pitch, saluting the crowd as fireworks and flood lights flashed around him.
Ronaldo joined the nine-time Saudi champions just weeks after his departure from United following a TV interview where he slammed the club and coach Erik ten Hag.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, with five Champions League titles to his name, signed for an estimated 200 million euros to June 2025 not long after his acrimonious split with Manchester United.
"It's not the end of my career to come to Saudi Arabia. This is why I change and, to be honest, I'm really not worried about what people say," Ronaldo said.
"In Europe my work is done... I had many offers in Europe, many in Brazil, Australia, the US, even in Portugal," he added. "Many clubs tried to sign me but I gave my word to this club."
"I'm coming here to win, to play, to enjoy, to be part of the success of the country and culture of the country," he added.
Al Nassr, the nine-time Saudi league champions, represent a significant drop in standard for the Portuguese forward who spearheaded title-laden campaigns with United, Real Madrid and Juventus.
