Cristiano Ronaldo said his move to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia does not signal the end of his competitive career as he was introduced to fans at a sold-out Mrsool Park on Tuesday night.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, 37, completed his medical with the Saudi Pro League leaders in Riyadh earlier in the day having on Friday agreed to a two-and-a-half-year contract.
Reports suggest the deal, including commercial and sponsorship tie-ins, could be worth more than $200 million per year.
Ronaldo, who arrived on Monday in the Saudi capital with partner Georgina Rodriguez and children, was welcomed to huge fanfare at the 25,000-capacity stadium.
Speaking at a press conference not long before, the former Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward said: “I’m so proud to make this big decision in my life, in football. As you mentioned there, in Europe my work is done; I won everything, I played for the most important clubs in the world. And for me now it’s a new challenge in Asia.
“I’m thankful that Al Nassr gave me the opportunity to show and develop not only for the football, but also for young generations, for the women’s generation as well. For me it’s a challenge, but in the same way I feel very, very happy and very proud.”
Ronaldo, who in November left Manchester United by mutual consent, represents one of the most recognisable athletes in the world, and is comfortably the most prominent figure to have signed for a Saudi club.
“As I told you before, this is a great opportunity not only in football but also to change the mentality of the new generation,” he said. “As nobody knows, but I can say now, I had many opportunities in Europe, many clubs in Brazil, in Australia, US. Even in Portugal many clubs tried to sign me.
“But I gave the word for this club, for the opportunity to develop not only the football, but the other part of this amazing country. I know what I want, and I know what I don’t want as well.
“I want to give a different vision of the country, of the football, the perspective of everybody. So this is why I had, and I took, this opportunity.”
Ronaldo has been criticised for joining Al Nassr, with his detractors claiming it is no way to bring down the curtain on one of the most successful careers in the game's history.
With 118 goals, he sits as the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s international football, while he has registered more than 800 goals in his career overall.
The Portugal captain is a five-time winner of the Uefa Champions League, and has guided his country to success in both the 2016 European Championship and the 2018/19 Uefa Nations League.
“Football is different [nowadays]; the evolution of football is different,” Ronaldo said. “It’s not the end of my career to come to Saudi Arabia. This is why I want to change, and to be honest, I really don’t care what people say.
“I took my decisions and I have responsibility to change that. But, for me, I’m really, really happy to be here.”
Nassr, nine-time Saudi champions, sit top of the domestic standings after 11 rounds, one point ahead of Al Shabab. They last won the title in 2019. Rudi Garcia's side next take on Al Ta’ee in the league on Thursday.
“I know the league is very competitive,” Ronaldo said. “The people don’t know that as well, but I do. Because I saw many games. What I want and I’m looking forward is to play. And I hope to play after tomorrow if the coach gives me a chance. But I’m ready to play, to still enjoy football and the people.”
On the “unique” nature of his contract, he said: “I’m a unique player, so it’s good coming here. I beat all the records there, so I want to beat a few records here as well. As you say, this contract is unique, but I’m a unique player as well. So it’s normal.
“It’s simple. I’m coming here to win, to play, to enjoy, to be part of the success of the country and the culture of the country. And I’m here altogether with Al Nassr, with my coach, with my president, and all the people of Al Nasser. What I want is to enjoy, to smile, and play football.”
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Women & Power: A Manifesto
Mary Beard
Profile Books and London Review of Books
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
if you go
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETHE%20SPECS%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EEngine%3A%203.5-litre%20V6%0D%3Cbr%3ETransmission%3A%209-speed%20automatc%0D%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20279hp%0D%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20350Nm%0D%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh250%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
