Legendary striker Cristiano Ronaldo was on Tuesday unveiled as an Al-Nassr player at Mrsool Park, sparking massive excitement among fans of the Saudi Arabian club.
Legendary striker Cristiano Ronaldo was on Tuesday unveiled as an Al-Nassr player in front of thousands gathered at Riyadh's Mrsool Park. The Portuguese talisman, who signed a contract last week which runs until 2025 for reportedly 200 million euros, received a thunderous roar as he walked onto Saudi Arabian soil to kickstart what is presumed to be the last chapter in his illustrious career.
Walks of the greatness ๐๐ pic.twitter.com/7FzLZSchQ5
โ AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN)Al-Nassr is currently on top of the Saudi Pro League and hopes Ronaldo's arrival will boost their chances of winning the title once again. The team will be in action on Thursday against Al Ta'ee and it remains to be seen if the 37-year-old superstar will make his debut.
Last ball for a special kid ๐ pic.twitter.com/L5uQH4aubo
โ AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN)The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who has over the last two decades stamped his authority on European football, has been having a tough time with his form and also suffered a horrid campaign with Portugal during the Qatar World Cup 2022. After being a free agent for over a month following his contract termination at Manchester United, Ronaldo was rumoured to move to Saudi Arabia. Al-Hilal was the other club in the race to acquire the talisman's services. However, the iconic player settled to join Al-Nassr and is proud and happy to be part of this Asian football giant.
Ahead of his unveiling, Ronaldo spoke at length about why he joined Al-Nassr during his introductory press conference and also revealed that he had plenty of offers from other clubs worldwide, including from Europe, but decided to move to Saudi Arabia to continue his career. Several critics have questioned his decision to head to the Middle Eastern nation, but the 37-year-old legend hit back with a strong message.
๐ฅ || โs first statement at the conference before the unveiling ๐ pic.twitter.com/dgG1KEpMrR
โ AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN)"Many people speak and give their opinions but they really do not know nothing about football. As you know football now, probably the last 10-15 years it is different, all the teams are more prepared, more ready," Ronaldo told reporters. "So for me it's not the end of my career to come to [Saudi Arabia], that's what I want to change. So I really don't worry about what the people say."
๐ฅ || talks about how difficult the Saudi League ๐ธ๐ฆ pic.twitter.com/aeAuG7Zeu9
โ AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN)Whether in Europe or Asia, Ronaldo enjoys a massive fan following worldwide, and CR7 followers quickly welcomed the G.O.A.T. to his new home Al-Nassr. "This is just unveiling, what will happen if they win the league," noted one fan on Twitter, while another added, "This is how you treat G.O.A.T. of the game."
A third fan stated, "Ronaldo has arrived," while a fourth noted, "It's โSiuuuuuโ all over the place!!"
Here's a look at how Ronaldo fans reacted to his grand unveiling as an Al-Nassr player:
This is just unveiling, wetin go happen if they win the league. https://t.co/fy6CAexATK
โ James Onwe (@youngvallen123)has arrived! ๐ธ๐ฆ https://t.co/N5QuXWZ4fB
โ Joe Morrison (@joefooty)Tbh I loved the live CR7 unveiling! Maybe not the ending he wanted but the respect he is getting is well deserved! I really wish him all the best in Asia and that he continues to conquer and inspire the way he inspired me when I was a kid! Siuuu! https://t.co/0XNQm0l0mi
โ Faizan Javair (@faizanjavair)"Come on Ronaldo say your thing"
"Siuuu..." pic.twitter.com/uyD0zePGkp
Everyone waited for Ronaldo to do the siuuu and he didnโt do it๐คฃ๐ญ feel sorry for the fans that kept shouting SIUUU at the stadium Al Nassr
โ NayeemUtd (@NayeemODR)RONALDO RONALDO SIUUUpic.twitter.com/e5Uu3KLyzU
โ ูููุณูู (@YOUSIIF27)Ronaldo bringing the Siuuu vibes to Saudi Arabia ๐คฒ๐พ๐
โ Kang . ๐ฌ๐ญ๐น๐ฌ (@selasivan)Cristiano is right, he is unique. He is the only player in history to get rejected by 12 european clubs! siuuuu
โ Context Ronaldo (@ContextRonaldo)Hala_Ronaldo๐ต
The greatest of all time
Welcome to
Canโt wait for your first Siuuuu inside pic.twitter.com/ZQ4o2qWHi7
This was undoubtedly the best ceremony I have ever watched + to see Ronaldo that happy once again made my eyes filled with tears at some point, the only thing missing was siuuuu in this ceremony.
โ ZEEโท (@FutbolZEE)Ronaldo, in his new Al-Nassr kit, walks out of the tunnel and waves to his new adoring fans.
That's the loudest amount of SIUUUU's I've heard in a long while.
Ronaldo's full press conference here
Ronaldo: 'My work in Europe is done - this ISN'T the end of my career' pic.twitter.com/d2gFWcUrdY
Shout from the back of press con: โI love you Ronaldo!โ followed by his trademark โSiuuuuโ. Not sure he expected that. pic.twitter.com/x5sUKTQyeS
โ John McAuley (@_JMcAuley)