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Cristiano Ronaldo said he was approached to play football in Australia after his messy exit from Manchester United, but ultimately joined Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia instead.
- Ronaldo said clubs from Australia, Europe, Brazil and Portugal approached him to join them
- The 37-year-old instead committed to Al Nassr for a reported $US200 million a year contract
- Saudi Arabia is set to bid for the 2030 World Cup as they invest in high-profile soccer
Ronaldo said he turned down "many clubs" around the world to complete one of the most surprising transfers in the sport's history, which could reportedly earn him up to $US200 million ($297,500,000) a year, the biggest football salary in history.
Al Nassr president Musalli Almuammar would not confirm the exact figures in the two-and-a-half-year contract.
"He is the best player in football history so it is normal he will be the highest in terms of cost or salary," Almuammar said.
"This is something that he really deserves, so the amount of money he will take, he really deserves."
Ronaldo was presented to thousands of fans at Al Nassr's Mrsool Park against a backdrop of fireworks and smoke machines.
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward will play in the Saudi Pro League after rejecting offers from Europe, North America and Australia.
"I'm so proud to make this big decision in my life. In Europe my work is done. I won everything and played for the most important clubs in Europe. This is a new challenge," Ronaldo said at a news conference where he only answered questions from the master of ceremonies, despite sitting in a room full of journalists.
The 37-year-old Portugal international, who has won five Ballon d'Or awards for the best player in the world and five Champions League titles, will play outside of Europe for the first time in his storied career.
"Nobody knows this, but I had many opportunities in Europe, Brazil, Australia, the US, even Portugal, many clubs tried to sign me. I gave my word to this club," Ronaldo added.
"I want to give a different vision of this country and football. This is why I took this opportunity."
Excitement built throughout the day ahead of Ronaldo's introduction, with fans making their way to the stadium early in anticipation of his arrival.
Large video screens on the exterior walls of the ground pictured him in Al Nassr's yellow and blue shirt, alongside the words "Hala Ronaldo".
When he eventually walked out onto the field at the 25,000-capacity stadium, the crowd chanted his name raucously.
"I want to make you all happy. This is my goal," he said.
Ronaldo had his contract with United terminated in November after conducting an explosive TV interview in which he criticised manager Erik ten Hag and the club's owners, the Glazer family.
Al Nassr, the 18-time Saudi champions, made an offer to him during the World Cup, which was held in Qatar in November and December. However, the deal was not confirmed until December 30.
The hugely ambitious transfer is expected to heap unprecedented focus on Saudi soccer ahead of a potential bid to stage the World Cup in 2030, as well as on Al Nassr, which is little known outside of Asia.
The Saudis have shown increasing interest in high-profile soccer. Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund completed the takeover of Premier League club Newcastle in 2021 despite questions raised about human rights in the oil-rich kingdom and " sportswashing."
AP