“A Bit Difficult, but…”- Cristiano Ronaldo’s GF Georgina Shares Insights on Adapting to Saudi Culture

It’s been more than a year since Cristiano Ronaldo made his Al Nassr switch. Beyond the on-pitch adjustments of playing in a new domestic league, the Portuguese superstar and his family faced the task of adapting to life in a new country. However, according to Georgina Rodriguez, they have settled in quite well and everything ‘aligned perfectly.’

The heartfelt confession was made in a lengthy interview with Adnan Al-Kateb for the Saudi Arabian magazine, Hia. When asked how the stay has been so far the star family, Rodriguez was nothing short of praise. The Spanish-Argentinian influencer insisted that everyone in the ‘beautiful‘ country had greeted them with open arms. Yet, she had faced several obstacles in the beginning: “I admit that moving to a new country, another language and a different way of life is always a bit difficult, but the experience of discovering Saudi Arabia so far has been an amazing journey.”

Be it discovering new places in the country or traveling around the country for work, the hospitality has been top-notch for the Ronaldo family. “I love Riyadh and its people, and I feel their sincere love for Cristiano, my family, and me personally, and this is what I feel in all places and situations, and I become more certain of it as the days go by,” added the 30-year-old. While acknowledging to easily adapt to the Saudi culture, she concluded, “Since my arrival, it has aligned perfectly with my principles and values.”

It seems like the time spent in Saudi Arabia has exceeded Ronaldo and his family’s expectations. Nevertheless, it’s reassuring that they now consider the Gulf country their home. While Rodriguez has highlighted all the positives of their stay in the Middle East, Ronaldo encountered one major issue.

The Saudi Arabian heat left Cristiano Ronaldo wiping sweat 

Previously, Cristiano Ronaldo admitted to the difficulties he encountered while adjusting to the heat and training schedules following his move to Al-Nassr. The 38-year-old initially grappled with the intense Saudi Arabian heat, where temperatures frequently surpass 40 degrees Celsius in the summer. In order to counter this, training sessions were held mostly in the evenings, which was not the same as the training schedules used by European clubs.  

Even his teammate, Alex Telles, once narrated that he couldn’t train due to extreme heat. In fact, Al Nassr’s former sporting director once suggested that the country’s weather conditions might hinder its ambition to become one of the world’s top leagues. Clearly, Ronaldo and a few players have faced challenges in adapting to the weather in the desert country. But, it seems that Ronaldo has overcome this challenge and is now enjoying the best time of his life.