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Official: Ronaldo joins Saudi Arabian club, Al-Nassr on a two and half year deal

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As widely reported on December 5, by various international media outlets, Cristiano Ronaldo is now an Al-Nassr player. The Portuguese star commits to two and a half seasons as a player and until 2030 as an ambassador for Saudi Arabia’s ambitious World Cup bid.

The Portuguese will get slightly over 200 million euros in total, making him the highest-paid player in the world.

Negotiations between Cristiano Ronaldo began last November in the middle of the World Cup, according to MARCA, but nothing was inked until lately.

To put everything in writing, the Saudi club’s president and sports director travelled to Madrid on Wednesday, and the contract was finalised on Friday afternoon.

Saudi Arabian authorities utilised their trip to Madrid to contact additional players, indicating a clear ambition to assemble a side that will capture the interest of the football world. Their next big target is Paris Saint Germain’s, Sergio Ramos.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer to Al-Nassr comes after a tumultuous divorce from Manchester United. The club-player relationship has been tumultuous since the summer when the Portuguese expressed his intention to quit the English club. A strained relationship was shattered by the player’s pre-World Cup walkout.

Ronaldo’s next destination has been disclosed less than two months after he made his move from Manchester United official.

After 20 years, the Portuguese icon is leaving Europe and top football in a lucrative agreement that might be his final contract as a professional footballer.

Stunning figures

The primary motive for abandoning competitive European football and going on a new football journey was obviously financial.

Cristiano Ronaldo will serve as an ambassador for Saudi Arabia’s image overseas in a kingdom that aspires to play an increasingly prominent role in sports. In reality, the former Real Madrid player’s entrance has been regarded as a matter of state.

The government has been accused of’sportswashing’ its human rights record, which has been defined as the ‘worst of the worst,’ by using football, Formula One, boxing, and other events to mask the country’s human rights record.

Among other human rights violations, homosexuality is outlawed in the nation and is punished by jail, physical or death punishment, and Saudi Arabia was judged to be guilty of the October 2018 horrific murder of writer Jamal Khashoggi.

Ronaldo’s deal includes cash incentives for advertising in addition to the large base (just under 100 million euros), making the Portuguese the best-paid sportsman in the world.

CR7’s contract with Al-Nassr will be worth close to 200 million euros every season.

Since his departure from Madrid, he has been on a downward spiral

He joins Al-Nassr at the age of 37, four and a half seasons after leaving Real Madrid, which marked the beginning of his downfall.

After three seasons at Juventus, where he scored a few goals but failed to win the Champions League, his return to Manchester United turned out to be a nightmare that ended with a back-door exit.

The new team

Al-Nassr was created in 1955 and plays its home games at Mrsool Park. Its colours are yellow and blue. French coach Rudi Garcia is now in charge, and players include Spaniard Alvaro Gonzalez and Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina.

Until 1960, when it was formally recognised by the General Presidency of Youth Welfare, Al-Nassr was an amateur club. Abdul Rahman bin Saud Al Saud was the club’s president at the time.

Al-Nassr began in the second division and was promoted to the first level in 1963. The club won four Saudi Arabian Premier League championships, six King’s Cups, three Crown Prince’s Cups, and three Federation Cups in the 1970s and 1980s.

Source: Marca.com

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Kylian Mbappe named new France captain as he replaces retired Hugo Lloris

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Kylian Mbappe named new France captain as he replaces retired Hugo Lloris

Kylian Mbappe of Paris St-Germain has been named the new captain of the France national team.

He takes over for Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who announced his retirement from international football in January.

On Tuesday, the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed Deschamps’ selection of Mbappe as captain and Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann as vice-captain via social media.

“Kylian meets all the requirements to have this responsibility,” France manager Didier Deschamps told French TV channel TF1 in an interview to be aired on Sunday.

“On the field as in the life of the group, by being a unifying element.”

On Tuesday, the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed Deschamps’ selection of Mbappe as captain and Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann as vice-captain via social media.

Mbappe was the top scorer at last year’s World Cup, helping France to a second consecutive World Cup final, which they lost to Argentina.

He scored two goals against Croatia in the 2018 final and was named the tournament’s best young player as France won the World Cup for the second time.

Deschamps’ team faces the Netherlands in their first Euro 2024 qualifier at the Stade de France on Friday, before facing the Republic of Ireland on Monday.

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Joseph Amoako has returned to Asante Kotoko following his release from prison in Sweden

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Joseph Amoako has returned to Asante Kotoko following his release from prison in Sweden

After being released from prison in Sweden earlier this month, Asante Kotoko winger Joseph Amoako has returned to the club.

Amoako, who was on loan at relegated Swedish Allsvenskan club Helsingborgs IF for the season, was reportedly found guilty of statutory rape of a minor in Sweden and sentenced to two years in prison.

After being charged with having sexual relations with a minor, the 20-year-old was detained in Swedish Police custody in November 2022 for a court trial.

Due to the rape allegations, Helsingborgs IF cancelled his loan deal before the contract with his parent club, Asante Kotoko, expired in January 2023.

The Helsingborgs District Court initially found the talented young winger guilty on two counts and sentenced him to 24 months in prison, but the charges were dropped after an appeal.

Amoako, who arrived in Ghana last week, paid a visit to his teammates on Wednesday morning at the Adako Jachie Training Complex in Kumasi.

Joseph Amoako has returned to Asante Kotoko following his release from prison in Sweden

After Kingsley Sarfo and Kwame Bonsu, he was the third Ghanaian footballer to be wrongfully imprisoned in Sweden on rape charges.

Amoako struggled for playing time at Helsingborgs IF, where he appeared in only ten (10) games — 295 minutes — across all competitions.

Asante Kotoko did not register him for this season, so he is ineligible to play for the Porcupine Warriors in the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League.

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Black Stars Head Coach Chris Hughton to be unveiled in Kumasi today

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'Hughton is at work.' - Prosper Addo, General Secretary of the GFA

Chris Hughton, the new head coach of the Black Stars, will be introduced today in Kumasi at the SG Mall in Ayigya.

Following successful negotiations with the Sports Ministry and the Ghana Football Association, the 64-year-old who replaced Otto Addo has been in charge of the team since last month.

Hughton’s contract details and other pertinent information will be revealed at the unveiling.

Ghana will play Angola in a double header AFCON Qualifier at the Baba Yara Stadium on Thursday, March 23, 2023, before travelling to Luanda for the rematch on March 27.

Source: citinewsroom.com

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