Cristiano Ronaldo became the first marquee signing in the Saudi League after arriving from Manchester United on a free transfer. He signed for Saudi giants Al Nassr. In his just the second season, Ronaldo is now an instant favorite among the fans of the club. The executive of Al Hilal has also hailed the Portuguese soccer star as the best signing in the Saudi League.
The Al Nassr star has also helped increase the viewership and sponsorships in the league. Further, Ronaldo is also inspiring the young generation of Saudi Arabia to pursue a career in soccer.
Cristiano Ronaldo transfer hailed as the best transfer of the Saudi League
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Cristiano Ronaldo sent shockwaves across the soccer world when he signed for Al Nassr in the Saudi League. Soccer players at the time only played in Saudi Arabia for the final big pay packages of their careers. Whereas, Ronaldo was more than fit after his exit from Manchester United. Therefore, he got trolled for making the move to the cash-rich. However, what has followed is Cristiano Ronaldo has positively changed the face of the league. Al Hilal executive has even called the 500 million deal for the Portuguese the best signing in the league.
Al Hilal executive Prince Nawaf bin Muhammad said in an interview.“The deal of the legend Cristiano Ronaldo for Al Nassr is the best in our league, and if he had been in Al Hilal, he would have become the first captain of the team.”
This is a surprising statement as Al Hilal also managed to sign stars like Neymar, Ruben Neves, and Koulibaly this summer. However, his impact on the Saudi League is the best thing for the league in its history.
🚨🚨🎙️ || الأمير نواف بن محمد – عضو شرف بـنادي الهلال :
"صفقة الأسطورة كريستيانو رونالدو لِـ #النصر هي الأفضل في دورينا، ولو كان موجود في الهلال لأصبح القائد الأول للفريق".
👑🟡🔵 pic.twitter.com/cHIaTm5fXe
— كورة | #النصر 🦁 (@9NFCBALL) October 23, 2023
The organizers of the Saudi League are hoping to take it to another level. Owners of all the clubs are also on board with the strategy of marquee signings. This could mean more top soccer stars signings.
The Saudi league is not finished with its marquee signings
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Saudi League owners and organizers are keen to build on the success of the league. They are going to aim for more signings this January and next summer transfer window. The organizers want to make the league one of the most watched leagues in the world. All the top European clubs are expecting offers from Saudi clubs for their star players this January. The signing of Cristiano Ronaldo has made them realize the star European players can bring success to the league in a short time. While the Saudi League has already attracted a list of top names, they are also reportedly interested in the likes of more big names like Mohamed Salah.
Cristiano Ronaldo is also enjoying his time in Saudi Arabia. He is also doing well for the national team. This has meant that Cristiano Ronaldo could sign a contract extension of his stay. Players like Karim Benzema, Kante, Neymar, Mane and others have also made the Saudi League a very tough competition. The Saudi League is also able to sell its media rights to countries all over the world. This did not happen much before the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo.
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Saudi League has also been beneficial for soccer stars. While money is an obvious benefit for players, the big signings have already started to increase the popularity of soccer in Saudi Arabia. And this will pave the way for more big names to follow. Will the Saudi League have more viewership than European leagues in the future? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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