Cristiano Ronaldo set to make Saudi Arabian debut on January 22

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to make his debut for Saudi Arabian team Al Nassr on January 22, according to a club source.

The Portuguese footballer’s registration with the team was made possible after Al Nassr terminated the contract of striker Vincent Aboubakar, who had been linked with Manchester United, in order to stay within the league’s maximum limit of eight foreign nationals.

Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in a deal worth approximately 200 million euros, will serve a two-match ban during the Ettifaq game on January 22 after being issued the ban in November for damaging a fan’s phone while playing for Manchester United.

The move has brought significant attention to the Saudi Pro League as Saudi Arabia considers a joint bid for the 2030 World Cup with Greece and Egypt.

Make every workout count💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/B9Ja80OwTl

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) January 7, 2023

The country has faced accusations of “sportswashing,” or using sport to distract from human rights controversies, as it works to improve its image and diversify its economy.