Al-Nassr’s new signing, Cristiano Ronaldo, made a costly error during his first press conference as a member of the Saudi Arabian club.
While addressing reporters on Tuesday, Cristiano Ronaldo, the club’s new player, referred to Saudi Arabia as South Africa.
Late in December, the 37-year-old Portuguese football icon agreed to a multi-year contract worth £173 million per year, a record salary for a footballer.
As part of the agreement, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will play for Al-Nassr for two and a half years before becoming an ambassador. Cristiano Ronaldo’s job entails assisting Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Greece in their bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
While speaking during his unveiling, Cristiano Ronaldo mistakenly said:
For me, it is not the end of my career coming to South Africa.”
This is why I want to change and to be honest I really don’t worry about what people say.”
I took my decision and I have a responsibility to change that.”
On why he decided to leave Europe for Asia, Ronaldo added: “In Europe, my work is done.”
I won everything, I played for the most important clubs in Europe and now it is a new challenge in Asia.”
As nobody knows, I can say now I had many opportunities in Europe, many clubs in Brazil, Australia, the US, even in Portugal, many clubs tried to sign me.