Portugal captain and Talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo, has finally signed a €60 million three-year deal with Saudi Arabian club, Al Nassr.
This is coming about a month after the 37-year-old forward had a mutual termination of contract with his former Premier League club, Manchester United, becoming a free agent.
According to Reuters, here are a few things you may not have known about the club:
“* Formed in 1955, Al Nassr is based in the Saudi capital of Riyadh and the club plays in the country’s top division – the Saudi Professional League (SPL), which has 18 teams.
* It finished third last season, six points behind champions Al Hilal.
* Al Nassr are the second-most successful team in the league with nine titles. Their last win was in the 2018-19 season. Only Al Hilal, also based in Riyadh, have won more titles (18).
* They have also won the country’s knockout cup, the King’s Cup, six times, most recently in 1990.
* The league’s all-time top scorer Majed Abdullah played for Al Nassr. The former Saudi striker scored 189 goals and averaged nearly a goal a game.
* Al Nassr’s home ground is Mrsool Park, which has a capacity of 25,000.
* Al Nassr’s best performance in Asia’s premier club competition, the AFC Champions League, came in 1995 when they finished runners-up.
* Saudi teams have won the AFC Champions League six times, with Al Hilal claiming a record four titles while Al Ittihad won the continental competition twice.”
Al Nassr’s coach and squad:
“* Al Nassr are coached by Rudi Garcia, who previously managed Lille, AS Roma, Olympique Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais. The Frenchman has been in charge since June.
* SPL clubs can register eight foreign players but only seven can be named in a matchday squad.
* Other notable foreign players in the squad include Cameroon’s World Cup hero Vincent Aboubakar – who changed the game against Serbia and scored the winner to stun Brazil in their last group game in Qatar.
* Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina, who previously played for Arsenal and Napoli, as well as former Brazil international and midfielder Luiz Gustavo are also in the squad.”
Al Nassr’s form in the current season:
“* Al Nassr are second in the league this season after 10 rounds, two points behind leaders Al Shabab.
* They must win the league this season to qualify for the 2023–24 AFC Champions League.”
