Cristiano Ronaldo: the reason that prevents his debut in Arabia and why he could debut against Messi

“My contract is unique because I am a unique player”he launched in his presentation. Cristiano Ronaldo, the man with the most expensive contract on the planet (200 million euros per season), is already living his first days as a player for Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr and caused a revolution. His presentation had three billion views on 40 channels around the world, surpassing the grand final of the Qatar 2022 World Cup that crowned Lionel Messi (two billion views).

Despite the revolution he caused in the Middle East, making Arabia the center of football, the Portuguese has not yet been able to debut in his new home. With experience of breaking numbers in England, Spain and Italy, ‘CR7′ is looking forward to celebrating his first goal in the growing Arab league.

“My work in Europe is finished”, he pointed out in another moment of his presentation. Top scorer in the Champions League and Real Madrid, the most winning club in European competition; Cristiano, at 37, has left the elite. But he still wants to continue spreading his legend in other corners of the world.

Now, all the Al Nassr fans -the usual ones and those who have joined thanks to the Portuguese- are looking forward to the striker’s first game with the club, that match that will mark the starting point of an idyll that is estimated last until 2025, time in which his contract will last. However, the Portuguese will not be able to debut yet. For what is this? We explain it to you below.

Cristiano Ronaldo: A debut against Messi?

This Thursday, Al Nassr played his first game with Cristiano Ronaldo in his squad. The Portuguese could not be on the field, but he did observe and celebrate the victory of his new team from one of the King Saud University Stadium stands. It was a 2-0 win against Al Ta’ee in the Saudi Professional League.

A double by Brazilian Anderson Talisca gave the three points to those in yellow, so they are at the top of the domestic tournament with 29 points in 12 games played, four more than Al Shabab (one game less).

But the questions that everyone asks is: Why didn’t Cristiano Ronaldo debut? Do you have any physical problems? The answer is one: before playing his fifth and last World Cup with Portugal in Qatar 2022.

An action that generated a lot of controversy and put him in the eye of the storm for several weeks. “It is never easy to deal with emotions in difficult times like the one we are experiencing. However, we always have to be respectful, patient and set an example for all young people who love the beautiful game”He later apologized.

FIFA regulations stipulate that, even after a player changes association, any ban of up to four matches handed down by previous associations must be “applied by the new association”.

The ban means the earliest the 37-year-old can make his debut is January 22, when Al Nassr take on Al-Ettifaq at their home stadium, Mrsool Park. Although there is the possibility that it will debut in style a few days before in front of Lionel Messi. In that way?

Before Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival at Al Nassr became official, Paris Saint-Germain arranged a friendly in Riyadh against a combination of Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr players. An all-star of the best teams in the country.

The meeting was scheduled for January 19, 2023 as part of the Parisians’ Qatar Winter Tour, which was previously postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although there is still no confirmed schedule, everything seems to indicate that it will take place, since the psg has a space between date 19 (vs. Rennes on January 15) and date 20 (vs. Reims on January 29).

In this way, what was going to be another friendly, where the only attraction was going to be on the side of the Europeans, just took on great importance and the international media began to speculate on the possibility of a duel between Messi Y Christian Ronaldo.