RIYADH: There have been numerous major headlines in Saudi Arabian football in recent months and years, but nothing compares to Cristiano Ronaldo joining Al-Nassr.
The World Cup victory over Argentina was monumental and will be remembered for providing probably the nation’s greatest moment in football.
But nothing has come close to the Portuguese legend’s entrance in the Roshn Saudi League in terms of domestic club football.
Hundreds of millions of people across the world will be watching the presence of one of the world’s greatest-ever players in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and elsewhere over the coming few weeks, months, and possibly years.
Forget Saudi Arabian football; this is one of the most important tales in football, period. Few expected it to happen, but here we are. It will undoubtedly be a wonderful adventure.
Ronaldo has agreed to a two-year contract with the Riyadh powerhouse. Following that, he is expected to take on an ambassadorial role at the club until the end of the decade.
During the World Cup, when rumors of Ronaldo’s relocation to Saudi Arabia were circulating, Al-Nassr coach Rudi Garcia expressed his delight at the thought of working with one of the greatest players in sports history.
“I think any coach would be pleased to train a tremendous star like Cristiano,” he remarked.
“I’ve always thought that the best players are the simplest to coach because they’re so smart.”
Attention follows the Portuguese star wherever he goes. He is the most popular person on Instagram — not a footballer or an athlete — with over 500 million followers on the social media network.
Even if only 10% of those who watch the Saudi Professional League are interested in what he is doing with Al-Nassr, the league will be one of the most watched in the world.
Al-Nassr have become one of the most talked about teams in the world with the stroke of a pen and the signature of a contract.
As the Yellows and the rest of the league will discover, there is no one like the former Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus megastar when it comes to marketing.
Stadiums will be packed wherever he plays. The press boxes will have an international feel, and social media will be flooded with posts in dozens of different languages.
There have been some fantastic players who have come to Saudi Arabia throughout the years, and some fantastic stars who are currently playing in the league, but there has never been a signing like this in this area of the world.
Source: Arab News
