After weeks of speculation, Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr - on a deal that runs until 2025 - was finally confirmed on Friday evening. The 37-year-old frontman was a free agent after leaving Manchester United, with the attacker having parted company with the Reds following his controversial interview with Piers Morgan.
It has been widely reported that the Portuguese veteran will receive the biggest salary in the history of football - with Ronaldo set to pocket around £172m per year. The signing of the player has been described by the club as "history in the making", while the former United man claimed he is "eager to experience a new football league in a different country".
During his interview with Morgan in November, Ronaldo criticised his then manager Erik ten Hag, the club's owners and several of his former teammates. He went on to claim that he felt "betrayed" by United. The attacker, who scored 145 goals in 346 appearances for United across his two spells at the club, was in fact, according to many, the one who had betrayed the club.
ALSO READ: Ronaldo breaks silence after joining Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr
Ronaldo insisted that he had rejected an offer to play in Saudi Arabia earlier this summer, which would have made him the highest-paid footballer in the world. He claimed that had been offered a two-year contract worth a staggering £305million from an unnamed club, later reported as being Al-Hilal.
However, the 37-year-old, desperate to continue playing at the top level, opted to remain at Old Trafford - addressing reports that no one was interested in signing him during his interview on TalkTV.
On Piers Morgan Uncensored, he said: "It's true, yes it's true… but what the press keeping say, the garbage, is that nobody wants me, which is completely wrong. And I was happy here to be honest, I was motivated to do a great season here. But they continue to repeat that nobody wants Cristiano. How they don't want a player who scored 32 goals last year, with national team [included]?"
Speaking about turning down a potential €350m payday, Ronaldo vowed that he was still capable of playing at the top level. He added: "It's hard, it's hard. But in the same way, I thought that I was very happy here; that I still capable to score goals. I still believe that I can score many, many goals and help the team because I still believe that I'm still good and capable to help national team - even Manchester United. But if you don't feel around you that the energy's on your side, it's difficult.
"Of course, the criticism is gonna exists all the time. 'Ah he's 37, he's not the same'. But I want to see if some guy of my age can maintain the level that I show… Yes, in this moment, I feel very, very good…. I believe that I'm going to do an amazing World Cup and I'm prepared, physically and mentally… But Piers, it is what it is. Life's good, I'm good, my mental [outlook] is good. I'm happy to do this interview with you. I know we're gonna generate many polemic."
Ronaldo had been linked with a number of clubs, including Atletico Madrid, Sporting Lisbon and Napoli. However, it now appears that no European side was truly interested in signing him - especially considering the wages he was being offered from Saudi Arabian clubs.
The player, despite scoring just three goals in all competitions this term prior to his Old Trafford exit, insisted that he could still play at the top level. Given that he scored 18 Premier League goals last season, it was somewhat understandable that Ronaldo still believed he was capable of competing at the highest level.
He has certainly not achieved what he has in his career by having self-doubt, or by making decisions based on what other people think about him, but it was clear, seemingly to everyone but Ronaldo - and Morgan - that the veteran forward was coming towards the end of his illustrious career.
Ronaldo added: "For me it's a stupid question. What do people say? They are not the same. Nobody is the same. Day by day we're getting old. Every one of us, you understand, it is normal. You have to adapt. And I think nobody in this game have this brain that adapts with his age. I'm not, I'm not want to be cocky to say that I'm the same as when I was 20. Of course, no.
"But I adapt and be smart to know my strength, what I'm good to do. And I'm still playing the high level and I score goals, and I will continue to score goals. If my mind is clear and happy. And if the people surround me, they're helping me to be successful player, especially the coach, the president, the directors.
"I want to play two years more, three years more. So two or three years maximum. I want to finish with 40. I think 40, will be a good age. But I don't know, I don't know the future. Sometimes you plan one thing for your life and as I told many times, the life is dynamic. And you never know what's going to happen."
By joining Al Nassr, Ronaldo has gone against his own belief in himself. While the Saudi Arabian side are performing well in the Saudi Pro League - currently sitting in second position - they were never able to offer the 37-year-old anything close to Champions League football. Not only will the veteran frontman not be competing in Europe's premier competition, but he has dropped out of Europe entirely.
There is certainly a case to say that the 37-year-old would have improved the vast majority of sides around the globe. While his game has changed over the years, his ability to find the back of the net - when playing in systems that allow him to solely focus on that - had never changed.
He truly believed that he still had everything needed to succeed at the top level, and in some ways, he was not wrong. Ronaldo spoke about continuing playing at the top level - but he is the one who has brought that to a close. He is the one who has chosen to move to Saudi Arabia.
Ronaldo knew that his game had changed, and he was well aware that he could not offer what he was once able too. However, he has now prevented himself from being able to prove Ten Hag, and anyone else that doubted him, wrong in what they thought. While that certainly won't matter to the United boss, it goes against much of what Ronaldo spoke about doing during his explosive interview with Morgan.
READ NEXT:
