Debut with orientation problems
Exhausted “supplement” Ronaldo is celebrated in Riyadh
01/23/2023, 10:11 am
Still without a goal, at least on the pitch. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi league debut is not one for the history books, but the 200m man is a very good ‘complement’ to his side’s success against Al-Ettifaq. The fans celebrate him and one also wins a car.
The personality cult surrounding former top player Cristiano Ronaldo had also clouded his club’s clear view of things a little. “The whole world is watching,” Al-Nassr boasted on social media, probably meaning the world that isn’t interested in the domestic leagues. At that time Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen were fighting for points in the Bundesliga and Arsenal and Manchester United were dueling in the Premier League. In Saudi Arabia, in Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-awaited league debut, Al-Nassr stayed top of the Saudi league thanks to a 1-0 win over Al-Ettifaq through a goal from 28-year-old Brazilian Talisca. Even if the world didn’t care that much.
Nonetheless, the attention paid to a game in the Saudi league was of course greater than ever before. And so the journalists present from the football strongholds were also able to report on the oddities of everyday league life in the league, which was completely unknown until Ronaldo’s transfer. According to the US broadcaster ESPN, a fan was chosen as the winner of a car during the half-time break. Ronaldo, who is said to earn around 200 million euros a year at Al-Nassr, has meanwhile struggled with the circumstances. During the warm-up, the experienced attacker ran straight into the wrong half and had to be caught by his teammates. It didn’t bother the fans much. They shouted “Ronaldo, Ronaldo” and “Siu” and celebrated the star in front of Riyadh’s yellow wall. Until they couldn’t anymore.
Garcia emphasizes strain
Ronaldo failed to score in his club Al-Nassr’s 1-0 lead, but entertained the crowd with his step-overs and tricks. And later he received a lot of praise from his coach Rudi Garcia. “It’s a positive addition when you have a player like Ronaldo because he helps distract the defenders from what happened when we scored,” the Frenchman elaborated on his new superstar’s performance. At the same time, he drew attention to the unusual rhythm of the game. After all, Garcia explained, CR7 had only taken part in the (sportingly meaningless test) game between a Riyadh selection and Paris Saint-Germain a few days earlier. You just shouldn’t forget that and also that “he didn’t have enough breaks”.
“Where do you go here to warm up please?”
(Photo: IMAGO/MB Media Solutions)
After his delayed debut for Al-Nassr due to a suspension imposed on Ronaldo while still in the Premier League, the Portuguese has been on the fast track to success. Al-Ittihad is already a strong opponent in the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup on Thursday. After that, it’s time for a week of relaxation. Only on February 3rd does the league continue with Al-Fateh, a mandatory task for Al-Nassr.
“Even with Ronaldo, it’s not easy to win the Saudi league. The competition is tough,” coach Garcia warned of the imponderables of football. With Supercup opponent Al-Ittihad and defending champion Al-Hilal two teams are waiting for Al-Nassr to lose points. The two clubs still have to do without a real driving force, but that could change soon.
Who else goes to the desert?
Because Ronaldo should not be the last world-class footballer to spend his sporting retirement in the gigantic desert kingdom on the Gulf. The Saudi sports minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, recently pledged his support for further “quality deals with international stars”. Hotter and colder, rumors surrounding Lionel Messi’s transfer to the desert will certainly continue until the world champion signs a new contract with Paris Saint-Germain.
Until then, attention will be on Al-Nassr and superstar Ronaldo. He, according to the reports, left the stadium, shielded by his security, an hour after the end of the game in the direction of his hotel, a huge bottle opener overlooking Riyadh. Soon he will score his first goal and then the world will watch Al-Nassr once more. Until then, however, the interest of the world public is likely to subside significantly. As much as Al-Nassr would like the opposite.