Saudi Arabia is in an act to exclude one of the greatest football players of all time from having to follow one of the major laws of the nation. Cristiano Ronaldo and the Saudi football club signed a deal on 30 December 2022 which would employ him as the iconic face of Saudi football.
Ronaldo is maintaining a live-in relationship with his partner Georgina Rodriguez and the couple has two children together. The marriage law existing in Saudi Arabia is similar to that of any other Islamic nation. The marriage law restricts unmarried couples from living together. Couples without proper legal marriage documents are not even permitted to check into a hotel room together.
It seems like the matter about the live-in relationship has already been sorted out between the player and the authorities. Along with him, his family especially his partner would also be moving to Saudi Arabia. And if the authorities have not granted permission Ronaldo would not even have thought about making the decision to join the club.
The Riyadh-based Saudi Arabian football club, Al Nassr Football Club was able to get Cristiano Ronaldo to join their club and the agreement was effective from Jan 1, 2023, onwards. Ronaldo’s joining the club was a piece of topping news in the headlines. The contract signed is for 2 and a half years until the year 2025. As per the reports this deal made Ronaldo the recipient of the highest salary ever in the history of football club trade, transfer, and auction. He would be receiving a salary worth 200 million euros per year.
This offer comprises the guaranteed 90 million euros annual football salary, with the inclusion of sponsorship and commercial deals that would reach an overall yearly salary of 200 million euros for the player. In addition to this, he had also received a signing-on bonus in the region of 100 million euros. Ronaldo had turned down a deal offer from the Major League Soccer playing club Sporting Kansas City in order to join the Saudi Arabian Club Al Nassr. Prior to this, the position of the highest-earning footballer was held by the French footballer Kylian Mbappe.
Cristiano would be playing in the position of a forward in the club. Ronaldo and his family were already introduced and placed before the Al Nassr club fans in the Mrsool club where around 25,000 were present. Ronaldo’s partner Georgina Rodriguez and his children Cristiano Jr, Eva, Mateo, and Bella were introduced.
The lawmakers of the nation have been anticipating the move and several predictions have been out in the air. One lawmaker stated that although the laws still prohibit cohabitation without a marriage contract, the authorities have begun to turn a blind eye and would not persecute anyone. The statement continued that those laws were used when there was a problem or crime.
In contrast to this another lawmaker stated that the Saudi Arabian authorities, today, do not interfere in such matters in the case of foreigners, but the law continues to prohibit cohabitation outside of marriage.
His partner, Georgina Rodriguez is a Spanish model and social media influencer. She was born in Argentina and raised in Spain. She has been in a relationship with the footballer since 2016. The couple met years back when she was working as an employee, a sales assistant, at a Gucci store. Georgina recalled the days when she started dating him as magical. Ronaldo used to pick her up after work in luxurious cars.
Cristiano Ronaldo while on an exchange with the media, addressed the news of him being a member of the Saudi Arabian club and said that his work in Europe was done. He continued that he played at the best clubs in the world and he has won everything. He further added that he was happy and that he was having a feeling of pride to join the club Al Nassr. He viewed that people might not know about the level there. He considers that the signed deal is a contract of uniqueness because he considers himself a unique player. Therefore the matter was normal to him.
Reportedly the Saudi club was facing trouble in registering Ronaldo due to the fact that the club had already exceeded its quota for the inclusion of foreign players in the club. Ronaldo has started practicing with the team members. However, the team would have to sack one of their foreign players or sell one in order to be able to feature Ronaldo.
A spokesperson for the club said that a foreign player must leave to register Ronaldo, either by selling or by terminating the contract by mutual consent and also mentioned the lack of vacancy in the team for an overseas player which is causing the delay in Ronaldo’s debut as a player. Another reason that delaying his debut is the 2 game ban that was imposed on him during the last season. While playing in the last season of the Premier League he had an incident with a teenager.
The 37-year-old Portuguese professional player is expected to make his debut and to appear in a blue and yellow colored jersey as number 7 by January 22 of 2023.
Cristiano Ronaldo is a 5 time FIFA Ballon d’Or holder and to his title, he has numerous titles and accolades. As of the recent data, he has a net worth that is estimated at 490 million US Dollars.
