Cristiano Ronaldo completed his move to Al-Nassr earlier this month.
Many stated that the move to Saudi Arabia signaled the end of Ronaldo's career at the top level and that the only reason he had moved to the club was for money. With the player signing a £175m a season deal which has seen him become the highest-paid player in the history of the sport, it is understandable why some have taken that viewpoint.
However, Ronaldo's former Juventus teammate Miralem Pjanic has hit back at these claims. The Bosnian midfielder believes that Ronaldo has moved to the Middle East because he knows it is the 'future of football.'
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The 32-year-old recently made the move to the Middle East himself, signing for Al Sharjah in Qatar after spending time at Barcelona and Besiktas.
Pjanic told Tuttosport: “It’s a very ambitious club, I am convinced that the Middle East will be the future of football. There are countries with a lot to offer, but their potential hasn’t been fulfilled yet. Surely, football will develop here. This is why I was not surprised by Ronaldo’s decision. Football in Arabia is not as easy as people think. I think he will contribute to the development of the sport in the country.”
Ronaldo has a two-and-a-half-year contract with Al-Nassr which will see him through till the summer of 2025. Whether the Portuguese forward will then retire or move elsewhere is yet to be seen.
However at present, the 37-year-old is having to wait for his debut while he serves a two-game ban that he was charged with while playing for Manchester United. He could however make his debut against Paris Saint Germain and his long-time rival Lionel Messi in a friendly this month.
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