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Nicosia (AFP) – Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo will receive more than €400 million during his stay in Saudi Arabia, including €200 million to be an ambassador for the Gulf Kingdom’s joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup, according to a source close to the his new club, Al-Nasr, he told AFP on Monday.
Ronaldo, 37, the five-times best player in the world who was unveiled to the public last week, is the most famous player ever to sign for a Saudi or Gulf club.
The source indicated that “Al-Don” will receive more than 200 million euros in his sports contract until 2025 as a player for Al-Nassr, as well as 200 million euros to be ambassador of the joint Saudi dossier with Egypt and Greece to host the 2030 World Cup.
The source, who preferred to remain anonymous as he is not authorized to speak to the media, said: “Ronaldo will receive 200 million euros in the deal” to play with Al-Nassr, nicknamed “Al-Alamy” in Saudi Arabia as is the first club to represent Asia in the Club World Cup in 2000.
He added: “He will also be ambassador of the Saudi dossier for the 2030 World Cup, in exchange for another 200 million euros.”
The Saudi signing of Ronaldo, the former English Manchester United, Spanish Real Madrid and Italian Juventus player, came weeks after its neighbor Qatar hosted the World Cup, for the first time in an Arab and Middle Eastern country .
Ronaldo, five times winner of the European Champions League and historic top scorer of the tournament, is preparing to present himself for the first time with his new club on January 22 during the victorious match against Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi League.
He could play three days before his start in Saudi Arabia, in a confrontation that will bring together French Paris Saint-Germain, led by Argentine Lionel Messi, with a selection of the best players from clubs Al-Hilal and Al-Nasr on 19 of this month.
The source pointed out that the imaginary Saudi football deal enjoyed great support from the sons of the Saudi monarch, King Salman, including Prince Muhammad bin Salman, his country’s de facto ruler.
The source said, “Mohammed bin Salman and (his brothers) Nayef, Turki and Rakan, sons of King Salman, are all honorary members of Al-Nasr even before their father became crown prince.”
“They wanted to give their favorite club an edge and put them in the international spotlight. The best possible way is to bring in the best player in the world.”
The source also revealed that the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, helped finance the deal.
The source said, “Al-Nasr and other Saudi clubs don’t have huge funds for such a huge deal,” noting that “the Public Investment Fund has included the required cash injection.”
Another source close to winning confirmed that the senior princes were the ones behind this sudden huge deal.
The second source said: “Mohammed bin Salman’s brothers were the ones who proposed and tried to conclude the deal at any cost.”
He added that “they are all Al-Nassr fans and wanted to show that their team is truly world-class.”
Prince Nayef was previously seen attending Al-Nasr’s training in Riyadh, and Prince Turki bin Salman was first in line attending Ronaldo’s introduction ceremony.
Al-Nasr has won nine Saudi League titles, the last of which was in 2019, but has never won the AFC Champions League, unlike its rivals, Al-Hilal, who have won four titles, and Al- Ittihad Jeddah, who won two titles. .
© 2023 AFP
