The fans are still waiting for his first game in the jersey of Al-Nassr …
At the beginning of January, superstar Cristiano Ronaldo (37) was presented with a large laser show at his new club Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. “I am so proud to have made this big decision. I’ve played for the biggest clubs in Europe, now I’m taking on a new challenge,” Ronaldo said at the ceremony.
Cristiano Ronaldo waves to his fans from the stands
Photo: AHMED YOSRI/REUTERS
But how big will this challenge really be for the multiple world footballer?
Someone in the know has now warned Ronaldo about his Saudi adventure. Barcelona coach Xavi (42) coached Al-Sadd SC in the league from 2019 to 2021 and had even played four years as a professional for the club before that.
Xavi now explains to Ronaldo: “He signed with one of the best clubs in Saudi Arabia, but it’s a challenge.”
The Barça coach explains: “This league is very complicated. When I was Al Sadd’s manager, I played against some of their teams. It will be a challenge.”
Ronaldo had missed the first games for his new club Al-Nassr after his move. Because in Saudi Arabia the teams in the first division are only allowed to register eight foreign players in the squad, space had to be created in the team first.
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Right in the first training session…
Ronaldo bangs for Saudi team
Those: SNTV / Audionetwork
That’s why the Portuguese missed the first game after his move against Al-Ta’ee (2-0), just watched from a box and celebrated the 2-0 winning goal shirtless on an ergometer.
He still won’t be there for the next game either: due to his freak out with a child – CR7 had slapped the cell phone out of the hand of a boy at a ManUnited game against Everton in April 2022 – he has to sit out one more game. As a result, Ronaldo was handed a two-game ban.
Surely he will then make his home debut against Al-Etiffaq on January 21 – and then finally face the new “challenge”…
