Ronaldo makes first comments on move to Saudi Al-Nassr club

FC Al-Nassr's shining new addition, striker Cristiano Ronaldo, has spoken out on January 3 about the level of football in Saudi Arabia, where he is now set to play. 

"As you know, football has changed in the last 10-15 years. All the teams are better prepared, all the teams are ready to fight. If we talk about the World Cup, the only team to beat the champions is Saudi Arabia, don't forget that. There were many surprises there," Ronaldo said during his first press conference representing the new club, as reported by Sky Sports.

Ronaldo, 37, has been without a team since November 2022 after he publicly criticized his former employer Manchester United's coaching staff, management and policies in an interview with journalist Piers Morgan ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.

The club decided to terminate his contract with the player earlier, which led Ronaldo to enter the 2022 World Cup in Qatar without belonging to a club. 

On January 2, he officially joined the Saudi Al-Nassr club, based in Riyadh, whose contract will see him receive a €200 million salary a year.

"In Europe, my work is done; I won everything, I played at the most important clubs in Europe and for me now, it's a new challenge. Nobody knows this but I had many opportunities in Europe, many clubs in Brazil, in Australia, in the US and even in Portugal. Many clubs tried to sign me but I gave my word to this club to develop not only the football but other parts of this amazing country", Ronaldo said during the press conference, according to Sky News. 

Apart from the financial compensation, the football legend will receive accommodation in a luxury mansion, as well as a plane for flights to Portugal and Spain from the club as well as increased attention to all his needs and the needs of his family.

In addition, Ronaldo will have the right to influence the fate of the team coach, which was one of the main reasons that caused the conflict at Manchester United. The current trainer of the Saudi club is French national Rudi Garcia, who previously managed clubs in France and Italy.