Cristiano Ronaldo signs with Al-Nassr: powerful disavowal and admission of impotence

A fivefold Ballon d’Or thus lands in Saudi Arabia, with the stated noble intention of “discover a new championship (…) in a different country” His income should be close to 200 million euros per year, including the advertising contract. It is likely that such an argument weighed in the balance, even if Cristiano Ronaldo must not lack financial resources. But deep down , although the sporting interest of his choice may be questioned: why not?

“Finish with dignity”

Because, precisely, “CR7” had evoked his twilight, from 2015. In “The Jonathan Ross Show”, he had declared: “I want to finish at the highest level, finish with dignity, in a good club. That doesn’t mean going to the US, Qatar or Dubai isn’t good, just that I don’t see myself there..” He was careful not to mention Saudi Arabia. A coincidence, no doubt, which adds a touch of irony to the situation.

This signature is a disavowal of his position at the time. It sounds like an admission of powerlessness, too. Ronaldo has a (European) Champions League goalscoring record to uphold, as an individual. He had lofty collective goals a few months ago. He will have none of this for two and a half seasons, in terms of the place occupied by his new club on the world stage.

Long seen as the archetype of the ambitious professional, who always gives himself the means to be successful, Ronaldo changes his look at 37 years old. If the former Real Madrid and Manchester United player is there, it’s probably because no big team on the Old Continent wants him anymore. There remains the fantasy of an end of career in apotheosis, because he has not formalized his retirement by 2025. Let’s not insult the future. The sayings and the writings remain.