Cristiano Ronaldo has conceded his first season with Al Nassr did not live up to his expectations, but the Portuguese star confirmed he is happy in Saudi Arabia and vowed to come back stronger next year.
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward, 38, joined the Riyadh club in late December on a two-and-a-half-year deal reportedly worth more than $200 million per year.
He went on to score 14 goals in 16 league matches, but still concluded the campaign without any silverware. Nassr, top of the Saudi Pro League when Ronaldo arrived in the kingdom, eventually finished second, five points off champions Al Ittihad. The season ended on Wednesday.
Nassr, seeking a first championship since 2019, also lost the Super Cup to Ittihad, while they exited the King's Cup at the semi-final stage to Al Wehda.
In an interview with the Saudi Pro League released on Thursday night – his first full interview since joining Nassr - Ronaldo said: “My expectation was a little bit different. To be honest, I expected to win something this year, but it not always should be the way we think or the way we want. Sometimes we need patience, consistency, and persistence to achieve the best things.
“We improved a lot. Let’s say in the last five or six months, the team has improved so much. Even the league; all the teams improved – and my team as well. It takes time sometimes, but if you believe and you think that’s your goal, everything is possible.
“I expected to win something this year, but we didn’t. But next year I am really positive and confident that things will change, and we go in a better way. So, let us believe that and work on that.”
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, believes nevertheless that he has had a positive influence on his teammates since arriving in January. He was made team captain from his league debut against Al Ettifaq on January 22.
“Of course, my teammates, they felt already the way I am – my discipline, my work ethic. It’s not by coincidence that I play at a high level for 20 years,” Ronaldo said.
“I think I help many, many other players, the way they see they see fitness. It’s a way of life, to play football. You have to be focused, you have to concentrate, and you have to be professional at least and to do it the best you can.”
One of the most recognisable athletes in the world, Ronaldo’s presence in the Saudi top-flight has garnered considerable attention. The Saudi Pro League says coverage of the competition is aired now by 48 platforms and TV broadcasters across more than 170 countries, and that match-day attendances have doubled.
“The league is very good, but I think we have many, many opportunities to still grow,” Ronaldo said. “The league is competitive. We have very good teams, very good Arab players.
“But they need to improve a little bit more the infrastructure. Even the referees, the VAR system, should be a little bit quicker. I think other small things they need to improve.
“But I am happy here, I want to continue here, I will continue here. And, in my opinion, if they continue to do the work that they want to do here, in the next five years, I think the Saudi league can be a top-five [league] in the world.”
Asked what has represented his biggest challenge since moving to the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo said: “One example is in Europe we train more in the morning, but here we train in the afternoon, or evening. And in Ramadan we train at 10pm at night - so this is so strange. But as I tell you these situations are part of an experience, memories.
“I like to live these moments because you learn with these things. It is difficult, but it is nothing I have not seen before. My experience so far is that Saudi fans they really love football and like to live the life. It is good and I am so happy until now.”
Ronaldo’s move to Saudi is expected to pave the way for other prominent players to follow, with the kingdom set to welcome a number of high-profile footballers to its top tier this summer.
Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema has received a lucrative offer from Saudi, with the final round of the 2022/23 La Liga season this weekend possibly his last match for the Spanish club. Benzema, the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner, joined Madrid in 2009.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi appears poised to move to Saudi, with 18-time champions Al Hilal, once his contract expires at Paris Saint-Germain.
As to what he would say to prospective players considering of continuing their careers in Saudi, Ronaldo said: “If they are coming, big players and big names, young players, ‘old players’, they are very welcome. Because if that happens, the league will improve.”
Closing with a message to his fans, Ronaldo said: "Thank you very much for supporting me every day here, not only in the games or in the stadium, but of course, outside in the streets and the places that I go.
"And I will be part of your world, your culture, I will be here - I hope I make the people enjoy through my games, my performance. And to win things. "But again, thank you for welcoming me, and I will try to give my best during the time that I will be here."
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Players Selected for La Liga Trials
U18 Age Group
Name: Ahmed Salam (Malaga)
Position: Right Wing
Nationality: Jordanian
Name: Yahia Iraqi (Malaga)
Position: Left Wing
Nationality: Morocco
Name: Mohammed Bouherrafa (Almeria)
Position: Centre-Midfield
Nationality: French
Name: Mohammed Rajeh (Cadiz)
Position: Striker
Nationality: Jordanian
U16 Age Group
Name: Mehdi Elkhamlichi (Malaga)
Position: Lead Striker
Nationality: Morocco
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UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne (vc), Subha Srinivasan, NIsha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Esha Oza, Ishani Senevirathne, Heena Hotchandani, Keveesha Kumari, Judith Cleetus, Chavi Bhatt, Namita D’Souza.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD v SOUTH AFRICA
Aaron Finch (capt), Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
READ MORE ABOUT CORONAVIRUS
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Haltia.ai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Arto%20Bendiken%20and%20Talal%20Thabet%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20AI%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2041%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20About%20%241.7%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self%2C%20family%20and%20friends%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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6.30pm: Emirates Holidays Maiden (TB), Dh82,500 (Dirt), 1,900m
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8.15pm: Emirates Airline Conditions (TB), Dh120,000 (D), 1,400m
8.50pm: Emirates Sky Cargo (TB), Dh92,500 (D)1,400m
9.15pm: Emirates.com (TB), Dh95,000 (D), 2,000m
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Racecard
6pm: The Pointe - Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m
6.35pm: Palm West Beach - Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (T) 1,800m
7.10pm: The View at the Palm - Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.45pm: Nakeel Graduate Stakes - Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m
8.20pm: Club Vista Mare - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,900m
8.55pm: The Palm Fountain - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m
9.30pm: The Palm Tower - Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,600m
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
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Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
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Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
