“The Development of Football…in Saudi Arabia” – Cristiano Ronaldo’s New Coach Likens His $200 Million Worth Transfer to Pele in America

Cristiano Ronaldo shocked every soccer fan after recently joining Saudi Arabian soccer side, Al-Nassr. The deal that Ronaldo signed with Al-Nassr is reportedly over $200 Million.  Every soccer fan thought that the Portuguese legend would wait for an offer from a European club. However, Ronaldo had other plans and decided to move his career to the Middle East.

In a recent interview, Al-Nassr’s head coach truly spoke about how he feels about Ronaldo’s arrival. However, Rudi Garcia made a few statements that brought a happy but confused smile to Ronaldo fans’ faces. Apart from that, Ronaldo was gracefully welcomed by Saudi Arabia and its soccer fans.

How does Rudi Garcia feel about Cristiano Ronaldo joining Al-Nassr?

In a recent interview Al-Nassr’s head coach, Rudi Garcia spoke about a direct comparison he made with Ronaldo. According to Firstpost, Garcia told the media, “It’s a bit like Pele’s arrival, in what was then the North American Soccer League. Especially for the development of football, sport, and culture in Saudi Arabia”. Garcia compared the Portuguese star’s arrival to when the Brazilian soccer legend went to the US to play soccer.

Garcia continued, “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.”

Garcia also spoke about how Ronaldo will help Saudi Arabia from a soccer perspective. He said that now more people will be interested in watching the Saudi soccer league. Before Ronaldo’s arrival not many soccer fans knew where and what Al-Nassr is.

Garcia also mentioned that the squad found it fairly easy to gel up with the Portuguese star. Garcia said, “He 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”.

Read More: “F**k That Douchebag” – American Fans Angry Over Cristiano Ronaldo Snubbing USA for $200 Million Deal in Saudi Arabia

Rudi Garcia concluded by saying, “The greatest champions are the easiest to manage”.

 When and why did Pele play soccer in America?

In 1975, at the age of 34, Pele decided to come out of his retirement and start playing professional soccer again. However, he did something completely unexpected like Cristiano Ronaldo. The Brazilian soccer legend joined the New York Cosmos, a soccer club in America.

At that time, no soccer fan could really believe what happened. In Pele’s first press conference in America, he revealed that he was in America to help grow soccer as a sport. He revealed that winning trophies was not his primary focus anymore.

Over the three-year contract in America, Pele undoubtedly changed the way Americans perceived soccer. Soccer fans used to fill up stadiums to their maximum capacity to watch the Brazilian soccer legend. While successfully building a legacy for himself in the US, Pele scored 64 goals in 106 games and won the championship in his final season.

It remains to be seen if Cristiano Ronaldo can successfully help soccer grow in Saudi Arabia just like Pele did in America.

Watch this story: “Goodbye to the Eternal King Pele”: Usain Bolt Joins David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Soccer World in Mourning the Saddening Loss of GOAT Pele

What do you think about Ronaldo’s decision to move to Saudi Arabia? Let us know in comments below.