Following the controversial move by Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United, Al-Nassr grabbed the chance to sign the superstar. The move has since caused a buzz in Saudi Arabia. Rudi Garcia, the Al-Nassr coach, was amazed at the packed press conference when Ronaldo arrived at the club. He was only used to just three or four journalists around him. The event was historical and had never happened before in Saudi Arabian football.

On the 30th of December, Al-Nassr signed Cristiano Ronaldo; since then, the club’s fortunes have changed. It is now the most popular club in Saudi Arabia and has triggered a conversation beyond the continent. Remember, Ronaldo is not only a football mega-star, but he is also among the most famous personalities in the world. He has a massive social media presence, boasting over 500 million followers on Instagram alone. The Al-Nassr club has also gained a huge following since the arrival of Ronaldo.

Boosting the League

A few days after signing the contract, Cristiano observed that very few people appreciate the Saudi Arabian League. He acknowledged that it is very competitive, and soon the world would know that because of him. The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo will not only have an impact on the pitch but will influence the gambling industry. Countries in the Middle East have various reservations about betting, but the practice is slowly growing among fans.

Currently, there are several off-shore licensed sportsbooks licensed in various jurisdictions such as UK, Malta, and Canada. In addition to the accessibility of reliable bookies, punters can also take advantage of the best free bets Ontario betting sites have on offer. One of the popular markets is the player to score, with many bettors favouring Ronaldo to score in the majority of the matches.

The SPL has improved significantly in the last couple of years. This growth is attributed to the arrival of quality foreign-based players. Apart from Al-Nassr, there are many powerful teams in the league, including Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab. Saudi Arabia also boasts a rich variety of domestic talent. This strength was discovered during the World Cup tournament when Saudi Arabia beat Argentina in the group stages.

Technically, Cristiano will play an ambassadorial role for Saudi Arabia and its football. When Al-Nassr decided to sign him, they knew well he would boost their brand positioning. They now count themselves among the best clubs in the world. The club has more ambition now with enhanced status. Al-Nassr currently has a greater value because of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Source of Inspiration

Previously, very few fans in Saudi Arabia and worldwide followed the Saudi Arabian football league. However, Cristiano Ronaldo has raised hopes and inspired a generation of fans to look forward to the league. Some young fans now harbour the belief of ever playing the game to reach the standards set by Ronaldo.

Saudi Arabia has a women’s national team, which played its first international game in 2022. Cristiano pledged to support the team and build the women’s league. The country is looking forward to hosting the Women’s Asian Cup in 2026.

As the biggest sporting influencer, Cristiano will likely attract other key players to join the Saudi Arabian League. There are speculations that N’Golo Kante of Chelsea and Luka Modric of Real Madrid will likely join Cristiano in Saudi Arabia.