Cristiano Ronaldo could possibly play against Knowledge Musona’s Al Taee side if the Portuguese superstar makes his debut for new club Al Nassr later this week.
Al Nassr are currently third on the Saudi Arabian log standings with 23 points from the opening 10 fixtures.
On Thursday, they play former Warriors skipper Knowledge Musona’s Al Taee, which sits sixth on the log.
Musona joined the Saudi club from Belgian topflight giants Anderlecht in 2021.
He has contributed three goals for the club so far this season.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, completed his transfer to the Saudi Arabia top-flight club on Friday after signing a contract that runs until June 2025.
The deal will see him get more than €200 million per year.
Following the completion of the transfer, Ronaldo will be eligible to make his debut in Al Nassr’s first game of the new year.
“I can’t wait to discover a new football league in a different country,” said the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus player upon putting pen to paper on the lucrative deal.
The Portuguese star was pictured on the Al Nassr Twitter feed holding a blue and yellow shirt with his favoured number seven printed on the back.
“The vision with which Al Nassr operates is very inspiring, and I am delighted to join my teammates so that, together, we can help the team achieve greater success,” he added.
Al Nassr have won nine Saudi Arabian league titles, the last in 2019.
“This is more than history in the making. This is a signing that will not only inspire our club to achieve even greater success but inspire our league, our nation and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves.
“Welcome @cristiano to your new home @alnassrfc,” tweeted the Saudis.
Ronaldo heads to the Gulf after a turbulent 2022, during which he saw himself relegated to the bench for Portugal and cut adrift by Manchester United.
United parted ways with the Portuguese star after the veteran forward gave an explosive TV interview in which he said he felt “betrayed” by the club and had no respect for coach Erik ten Hag.
United terminated his contract while Ronaldo was with Portugal at the World Cup.
Ronaldo’s quest for a World Cup winners’ medal started well, as he became the first player to score in five global tournaments when he converted a penalty in their win against Ghana.
However, he was then left out of the starting line-up for their last-16 clash as Portugal ripped Switzerland apart.
When Portugal lost to Morocco in the quarterfinals, he started on the bench and ended the tournament in tears.
Ronaldo has long been one of the top-paid players in football.
His salary was a reported to be €31 million at Juventus, although the Turin club’s accounts are being investigated for possibly under-reporting what they paid players.
While he took a pay cut to rejoin United, with reports putting his basic annual salary somewhere between €15 million and €28 million, before bonuses, that still made him one of the best-paid players in Europe.
As his relationship with United soured, Ronaldo was linked to a string of Champions League contenders, including Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Napoli.
A return to his first club Sporting in Lisbon was also rumoured.
There was also talk of a move to the MLS to join Inter Miami, part-owned by former United teammate David Beckham.
None of those deals came to fruition.
United decided his diminishing contribution, coupled with his growing and public dissatisfaction, made him a pricey luxury they no longer needed.
For Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo is the latest high-priced sporting jewel acquired to add lustre to their international image.
The rebel LIV Golf series has offered huge guaranteed contracts and purses to attract stars.
Dustin Johnson reportedly signed a contract worth up to US$125 million.
Saudi Arabia has staged heavyweight boxing title bouts and hosted a Formula One grand prix the last two years, as well as the Dakar Rally.
The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia acquired Premier League club Newcastle in 2021, and is being linked with Manchester United.
Ronaldo has long been in competition with Lionel Messi for the titles of greatest player and biggest earner in football.
Messi pulled away from Ronaldo on the field by winning a World Cup, but the sums of money the Portuguese star will reportedly receive in Riyadh far surpasses what the Argentine is making from Paris Saint-Germain.
Ronaldo has won five Champions League titles (2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018), league titles in Italy (2019, 2020) with Juventus, in Spain (2012, 2017) with Real Madrid and in England (2007, 2008, 2009) with United.
He is also the top scorer in the Champions League and with the Portuguese national team, with whom he won Euro 2016. — AFP/Sports Reporter.
