Cristiano Ronaldo has been sent a blunt warning ahead of his Al-Nassr debut by Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez, who knows all about the challenges the Saudi Pro League can pose
Cristiano Ronaldo has been warned that the Saudi Pro League will be a challenge (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez has warned Cristiano Ronaldo that the Saudi Pro League is “very complicated” ahead of his eagerly anticipated Al-Nassr debut.
Ronaldo, 37, signed a lucrative two-and-a-half-year deal with Al-Nassr on New Year’s Eve after finalising an agreement to leave Manchester United six months early during the World Cup. However, the Portuguese superstar has yet to make his eagerly anticipated debut in the Saudi Pro League due to a ban he incurred during his second stint at United last year.
The veteran could make his Al-Nassr debut next Sunday when his new club, who are top of the Saudi Pro League, face Al-Ettifaq.
But ahead of his Al-Nassr bow, Xavi has warned Ronaldo that the Saudi Arabian league is a “challenge” and that anybody claiming the former Juventus and Real Madrid man has taken the easy option is wrong.
Xavi, who spent six years playing in Qatar as a player and a manager with Al Sadd after leaving Barcelona, said: “Ronaldo has signed for one of the best clubs in Saudi Arabia, but it’s a challenge. This league is very complicated. I played against several of their teams when I coached Al Sadd. It will be a challenge.”
It is estimated that Ronaldo will pocket £173million-a-year at his new club: a figure that makes him the highest-paid footballer in the world.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had been expected to pursue a move to a club that could offer Champions League football after cutting his second spell at Manchester United short. However, he made it clear that he had achieved everything he set out to in European football and that the Middle East represented a fresh challenge.
Xavi Hernandez knows all about the Saudi Pro League from his spell in Qatar with Al Sadd ( Image: Joan Valls/Urbanandsport)
While Ronaldo has yet to take to the field for Al-Nassr, he has already made a significant impact at the club, who have seen their social media following balloon from 800,000 to over 10 million.
Ronaldo’s new boss, Rudi Garcia, has also been impressed with his new acquisition. The Frenchman said: “It’s great. Great for us, for Al-Nassr. Great for Saudi Arabia.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is more than a player. He is one of the best players in the world. It’s amazing how much it’s put a spotlight on our club. Now, everyone knows where our club is around the world. We must have gone from 800,000 (followers) to 10million in a few hours, a few days, because of Cristiano’s arrival.”
Garcia added: “The greatest champions are the easiest to manage. He (Ronaldo) blended in with the squad. We saw him joking and laughing with pleasure with his new teammates. He was with us for the last game, even if he couldn’t play. He was in the locker room, riding his bike.”
Cristiano Ronaldo being used by Al Nassr in ‘ultimate revenge’ mission
Cristiano Ronaldo is being viewed as the pawn of a ‘revenge mission’ in Saudi Arabia after joining Al Nassr from Manchester United.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s January move to Saudi Arabia is reportedly being viewed as the ‘ultimate revenge’ mission. Al Nassr have signed the Portuguese icon on a two-and-a-half-year contract but weren’t the first Saudi club to show an interest in a blockbuster swoop.
Ronaldo is earning the biggest salary in football history after leaving European football for the Middle East, with his deal worth £177million per year, including commercial agreements.
He left Manchester United in November after the club terminated his contract in response to his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, blasting their Glazer family owners, among several other topics.
But the 37-year-old striker could’ve left Old Trafford for Saudi Arabia in the summer when Al Hilal, considered the country’s biggest club, came calling.
Ronaldo turned the opportunity down to remain at United, but his move to bitter rivals Al Nassr just months later will have been taken as a painful kick in the teeth.
Cristiano Ronaldo left Man Utd for Al Nassr. (Image: Getty)
According to The Athletic, Al Nassr view beating Al Hilal to his signature as an almighty coup and ‘ultimate revenge’ for the latter’s recent Saudi Pro League dominance.
While thousands lined the streets of Riyadh to welcome Ronaldo to his new home, Al Nassr revelled in the limelight as Al Hilal were forced to watch from a distance against their will.
The reigning SPL and Asian Champions League winners would have been the clear favourites to recruit Ronaldo… had they not been serving a transfer ban this month.
Al Hilal were punished after extending midfielder Mohamed Kanno’s contract despite the Saudi Arabia international signing a contract to join Al Nassr.
Cristiano Ronaldo will earn £177m per year at Al Nassr. (Image: Getty)
An unsuccessful appeal against punishment meant the SPL giants couldn’t react as Al Nassr gained vengeance by securing one of the most impactful football signings of all time.
To make matters worse for Al Halil, Ronaldo is joining an Al Nassr side currently top of the league, three points ahead of the reigning champions, Al-Shabab and Al-Taawoun.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner won’t have arrived in the Middle East to run out his career with a healthy paycheck and will be eyeing more silverware to add to his illustrious collection.
Meanwhile, Al Hilal will be watching his exploits, likely pondering where they would be if it were them who had brought him to the region.
Source: mirror.co.uk; express.co.uk
