[Anchor
Lead] Football star Ronaldo, who left Manchester United as an independent, has confirmed to join Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
His annual salary is a whopping 270 billion won, but the reaction from the soccer world is cold.
This is Reporter Kim Hyeong-yeol.
<Reporter>
Al Nasr club announced through social media that they have signed a contract with Ronaldo until 2025.
Al-Nassr greeted the top star, saying, “History has been made,” and Ronaldo said, “I wanted to experience a new league,” and “I will help the team succeed.”
Although specific terms of the contract were not disclosed, it is known that he will receive the world's highest annual salary of 200 million euros, or about 270 billion won, including wages, advertising and portrait rights, etc. It was reported that it would become a de facto 'Ronaldo FC'.
Even with super-large contracts, the football world's view is cold.
Ronaldo, who did not participate in team training just before this season, saying he wanted to transfer to a Champions League team when his team Manchester United failed to advance to the European Champions League, went against his own words and moved to an Asian team, and criticized the club and manager right before the World Cup. It is pointed out that after parting with Manchester United and showing only less than expected performance in the World Cup, he only pursued money rather than restoring his honor.
[Craig Burley/ESPN Soccer Commentator: Now, even if Ronaldo comes out 4 times a week and gets a hat trick every time (in the big leagues), nobody will care.]
Meanwhile, Ronaldo will have to miss the first two league games in Al-Nassr as well, having been suspended for the last two games in April for smashing a young fan's cell phone with his hand.
(Video editing: So Ji-hye, CG: Seo Seung-hyun)