[Football] Cristiano Ronaldo joins Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr

[SteveU]

Can’t wait to see him lording it around Saudi until he inevitably steps out of line and gets stoned to death

 

[Milano]

Hmmmm, I’m just old enough to remember Pele, Moore, Best etc. doing the exact same thing in the US in the 70s, I’m not old enough to remember if it got this sort of reaction though?

 

[crodonilson]

Saw the breaking news during Liverpool v Leicester last night and was agog. Think he will be a huge success there.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Hmmmm, I’m just old enough to remember Pele, Moore, Best etc. doing the exact same thing in the US in the 70s, I’m not old enough to remember if it got this sort of reaction though?

Those three were much loved and respected. Not sure many feel that way about CR7.

 

[BNthree]

Is this a surprise to anyone though?

Plenty more evidence of that over many years. The Piers Morgan interview should have left nobody in any doubt at all

My first post in thread said it’s not a surprise! Just sad all our suspicions have been confirmed.

 

[MJsGhost]

Hmmmm, I’m just old enough to remember Pele, Moore, Best etc. doing the exact same thing in the US in the 70s, I’m not old enough to remember if it got this sort of reaction though?

Those three probably needed the money a little more than the preening wanker does

 

[DavePage]

Who?

 

[Swansman]

Its a pleasure that we won't have to see him again until the 2024 Euros.

 

[Official Old Man]

I'm guessing they don't have FFP out there.
As a side, the Italian Super Cup is being played at the Al Nassr ground in a couple of weeks between AC & Inter Milan. KO 23:00 local time!
And finally, the grounds name is the Mrsool Park sponsored by a local delivery company. Bet that changes soon.

 

[Coxovi]

History is littered with examples of this isn’t it, even the great Pele went to New York Cosmos in the noddy American league for a last pay day. Beckham cut his career short to boost his bank balance by cashing in on commercial opportunities in the US. The Saudi angle and the obscene money they can throw at players now makes this one particularly disgusting but it won’t be the last, wait until Messi is offered and takes a larger deal.

I have to disagree on this parallel. For both Pelé and David B. the reason they were getting paid in the US was for the sake of building football in an under developed market. Both were very successful in recruiting fans to the sport. Agree they were playing at a lower level, but it was still about doing it for the game itself. Whatever obscene amount Ronaldo is getting paid has nothing at all to do with football, it is to give legitimacy to specific regime. It is perhaps more aligned with David B. representing Qatar.

 

[MattBackHome]

Embarrassing way to bow out.

 

[The Optimist]

Hmmmm, I’m just old enough to remember Pele, Moore, Best etc. doing the exact same thing in the US in the 70s, I’m not old enough to remember if it got this sort of reaction though?

The USA is a democracy, not a state run by a morally questionable regime looking to sportwash their image.

Pele, Moore and Best would have earned nothing like the money Ronaldo has.

It could have been legitimately an interesting and exciting move to the USA to try to establish football in the 70s.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I've always thought that he has to have that massive neck to hold up and support his massive ego.

 

[GT49er]

Those three probably needed the money a little more than the preening wanker does

Indeed - the £20 a week maximum wage was still in force when Bobby Moore started out!

 

[VAL1850]

Not that it matters, what level is the Saudi league??.

Guessing lower Scottish Prem??

 

[SUIYHP]

He’s not all that, he never beat Brighton at the Amex.

 

[B-right-on]

"Cristiano Ronaldo dwarfs Lionel Messi and Neymar’s earnings with astronomical £485,000-per-DAY"

But it's not about the money so critics please shut it

"Commenting on his switch, the ex-Manchester United forward said: “I’m thrilled for a new experience in a different league and a different country, the vision that Al Nassr has is very inspiring."

Apparently.

Sauce:

Ronaldo dwarfs Messi, Neymar and Canelo with astronomical £485k-per-day contract

Cristiano Ronaldo will pocket a whopping £177million-a-YEAR salary at Al Nassr – becoming the highest-paid athlete in history. The 37-year-old’s move to the Saudi Arabian side was confi…

talksport.com

Actually made me feel ill reading this.

 

[nicko31]

There was always a debate about who is better, Messi or Ronaldo. These past few months have been quite telling.

Both on the Saudi payroll. Why do these greats chose to tarnish their image, rich beyond anything already.

 

[swindonseagull]

Can’t wait to see him lording it around Saudi until he inevitably steps out of line and gets stoned to death

Im sure he wont be living in Saudi....he will be in Dubai and fly in for games / appearences......

 

[swindonseagull]

He’s certainly no Charlie Austen

Who's back at Swindon