Al Nassr manager Rudi Garcia hopes his new signing Cristiano Ronaldo will find the joy of playing again after a controversial exit from Manchester United.
Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in a staggering €200million move, had a tumultuous end to his second stint at Old Trafford, with off-field controversies causing tension between player and club.
In an interview, Garcia said he was delighted to have Ronaldo on board, telling France 24:
“The only thing I wish for Ronaldo is that he finds the pleasure of playing again and that he finds his smile again because in recent months between Manchester United, the national team and then on a personal level, he has not Had some easy times. If he finds the pleasure of playing again, it will already be a goal achieved.”
🎙️ Rudi Garcia: “Cristiano Ronaldo is an example, everyone knows that. My goal for Cristiano Ronaldo is for him to be happy, I want him to have fun playing with Al Nassr and winning with Al Nassr.”
🚨🎙️ Rudi Garcia: “Cristiano Ronaldo is an example, everyone knows that. My goal for Cristiano Ronaldo is for him to be happy, I want him to have fun playing with Al Nassr and winning with Al Nassr. ” (🗣️ Press conference) https://t.co/mN34depuCk
Despite Ronaldo’s undoubted talent, his departure from Manchester United was met with a mixed response from fans.
Many were unhappy with the way he left the club after his explosive interview with Piers Morgan. However, Garcia is confident the Portuguese superstar will be able to put those issues behind him and focus on his game at home. Al-Nasr.
It remains to be seen whether Ronaldo will be able to return to his best level at Al Nassr. However, there is no denying his talent and goalscoring ability, with 701 goals in club football and a record 118 in international play scored in nearly two decades.
If Ronaldo can find his feet and start enjoying his game again, there’s no doubt that the former Juventus and Real Madrid striker would be a huge asset to the Saudi club.
Manchester United striker Ronaldo’s arrival at Al Nassr has parallels with Pele’s move to MLS – Rudi Garcia
Al Nassr manager Rudi Garcia has compared Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia to legendary Brazilian player Pele’s transfer to the American League in the 1970s.
RUDI GARCIA (Coach of Al Nassr): “The attraction of Saudi Arabia for the legend ‘Cristiano Ronaldo’ reminds me of the transfer of the legend ‘Pele’ to the American League, because both agreements have positive aspects in football development. https://t.co/vYrxSP9aME
Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in a staggering €200million move, has been the subject of much speculation following his controversial exit from Manchester United. However, Garcia is confident that Ronaldo’s arrival in Saudi Arabia will have a positive impact on the development of the game in the country, saying:
“Saudi Arabia’s attraction to legend Cristiano Ronaldo reminds me of legend Pele’s transfer to the American League, as both deals have positive aspects in the development of football.”
The 37-year-old has scored just three times in club football this season.