post_page_cover

Cristiano Ronaldo Signs With Saudi Arabian Club Al Nassr – The Hollywood Reporter

Jan 3, 2023

Cristiano Ronaldo completed a lucrative move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr on Friday in a groundbreaking deal for Middle Eastern soccer.

Al Nassr posted a picture on social media of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner holding up the team’s jersey, with the club hailing the signing as “history in the making.”

“This is a signing that will not only inspire our club to achieve even greater success but inspire our league, our nation and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves,” the club wrote.

It also gives the 37-year-old Ronaldo a massive payday in what could be the final contract of his career. Media reports have claimed the Portugal star could be earning up to $200 million a year from the deal.

While the signing is a massive boost for Middle Eastern soccer, it will also fuel the debate about Saudi Arabia using so-called “sportswashing” to boost the country’s image internationally. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund owns Premier League team Newcastle, and the country is considering a bid to host the 2030 World Cup.

Ronaldo had been a free agent after his contract was terminated by Manchester United following an explosive TV interview in which he criticized manager Erik ten Hag and the club’s owners. He is coming off a disappointing World Cup where he was benched in the knockout rounds, and Portugal lost in the quarterfinals to Morocco.

He will now seemingly see out the last years of his career far away from the spotlight of top European soccer, as he is by far the biggest name to go play in the Saudi Arabian league.

Saudi Arabia earned its biggest international soccer win ever at the World Cup in Qatar last month when it beat eventual champion Argentina in its first group-stage game. But it failed to reach the knockout stages, and the domestic league has few other stars and is not watched by a major international audience.

Disclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by filmibee.
Publisher: Source link

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Hilary Duff Really Wants People To Stop Asking When The Baby Is Coming, Because Her Guess Is As Good As Yours

In other words, relax people.View Entire Post › Disclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by filmibee.Publisher: Source link

Apr 26, 2024

Former Slack CEO’s 16-Year-Old Child Mint Butterfield Reported Missing

Authorities are trying to locate Slack cofounder Stewart Butterfield's 16-year-old child. Mint Butterfield was last seen late April 21 in Bolinas, Calif., a Marin County Sheriff's Office deputy said in a statement posted on the department's Nextdoor account April 23. The police added…

Apr 26, 2024

Jill Scott’s Chris Brown Tweet Faces Backlash

*deep sigh* In times like this, I wish Jill would've remembered and practiced her own lyrics, "Maybe we could just be silent." If you or someone you know is in immediate danger as a result of domestic violence, call 911.…

Apr 25, 2024

Skai Jackson Reveals Where She Stands With Her Jessie Costars

After starring as brainy Ren Stevens for three years on Even Stevens, bringing the titular Kim Possible to life, and starring opposite Hilary Duff in the 2002 DCOM Cadet Kelly, Christy Carlson Romano took to Broadway for a 31-week run…

Apr 25, 2024