Musalli Al Muammar, the former president of Al Nassr Saudi Club, revealed exciting details and precise behind-the-scenes information for the first time about the "deal of the century," which was the signing of the Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo by Al Nassr, a deal that caused a global sporting earthquake and changed the football map in the region.
The story begins: an ambitious vision and a golden proposal
During his appearance on the "In the Goal" program on Al Arabiya channel, Al Muammar emphasized that the credit for completing this historic deal goes first and foremost to God Almighty, and then to the tremendous transformation that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is witnessing under Vision 2030, led by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He explained that the comprehensive development renaissance was the decisive factor in convincing a star of Ronaldo's stature to come, noting that without the significant government support for the sports sector, it would not have been possible to persuade a player of such global value to join the Saudi league.
Al-Muammar indicated that the idea originated with a suggestion from Al-Nassr icon Prince Khalid bin Fahd in July 2022, coinciding with Ronaldo's absence from Manchester United's pre-season training camp. Despite initial reports suggesting the player had rejected previous offers, the Saudi club remained determined.
Shuttle flights from Manchester to Lisbon
The former Al-Nassr president recounted the details of the arduous negotiations, which began with honorary member Mohammed Al-Khuraiji contacting renowned agent Jorge Mendes. Events progressed with a delegation traveling to Manchester, but the initial meeting did not take place. As tensions escalated between Ronaldo and his former coach, Erik ten Hag, the focus shifted to Lisbon.
In the Portuguese capital, and under the direct supervision of the Minister of Sport, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the first meeting with Cristiano Ronaldo took place at his home. This was followed by crucial meetings in Qatar during the World Cup, where the Minister's discussions with the player played a pivotal role in reassuring him that his arrival was not merely a transfer to a club, but rather part of a massive national sports and development project.
The impact of the deal and its strategic dimensions
The Ronaldo deal wasn't just a technical acquisition for Al-Nassr; it was a cornerstone of their project to attract international stars to the Saudi league. Al-Muammar explained that Ronaldo signed two contracts: one with Al-Nassr and the other with the Saudi Professional League, confirming his role as a key pillar of the Saudi sports project.
Analysts agree that Ronaldo’s arrival paved the way for other stars such as Neymar, Karim Benzema, and Sadio Mane to join the Roshan League, raising the league’s market value and attracting the world’s attention and television broadcasting rights to more than 140 countries. Al-Muammar confirmed this by saying that the league would lose much of its luster without Cristiano’s presence.
Al Muammar concluded his remarks by noting that Saad Al-Ladheeth, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Professional League, joined on the last day of negotiations to finalize the contracts, thus writing a new chapter in the history of Saudi sports.
