Cristiano Ronaldo has to be patient. After his arrival in Saudi Arabia, it won't be that easy with a stake. The 37-year-old is not entitled to play, nor does a suspension allow him to play for the new club Al-Nassr.
Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has to wait for his debut for Al-Nassr. The 37-year-old faces a two-game suspension from the English FA before he can play for the Saudi Arabian club. An Al-Nassr official confirmed this to the AFP news agency.
Ronaldo slapped the phone out of a teenage fan's hand in November after his then-club Manchester United lost to Everton. As a punishment, the English association FA had imposed a two-game ban on the Portuguese.
"The ban applies as soon as he is officially registered," said the club official, who wished to remain anonymous. This has not yet happened. Ronaldo is currently the ninth foreign player at Al-Nassr, only eight professionals are allowed in the league. However, his registration should be completed this Friday, according to Saudi media, the club is to part ways with Uzbek midfielder Jaloliddin Masharipov. The squad also includes the Brazilian Luis Gustavo, who is known from the Bundesliga.
Al-Nassr's first game after Ronaldo's arrival was postponed from Thursday to Friday at short notice due to heavy rain and the resulting lack of electricity. But the Portuguese is missing from the squad due to lack of eligibility. The leaders of the Saudi Pro League take on Al-Tai.
Ronaldo was presented on Tuesday with a show that was as bizarre as it was pompous at Al-Nassr, where he had signed a contract for two and a half years. According to media reports, the five-time world footballer, including advertising revenue, should get the equivalent of around 200 million euros per season.
