Cristiano Ronaldo

According to Saudi state-owned media, Ronaldo will earn an estimated $200 million a year with Al Nassr, making him the world's highest-paid soccer player. Shortly after the 37-year-old's signing with Al Nassr, the club's Instagram page gained over 5.3 million new followers.

Cristiano Ronaldo Arrives In Saudi Arabia, Erroneously Calls It South Africa

After what was clearly a slip of the tongue, Ronaldo went on to outline his reasons for joining Al Nassr.

Cristiano Ronaldo has just completed a move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, but made a slip up during his official presentation in Riyadh when mistakenly saying he had "come to South Africa.

Perhaps the Portugal great was disorientated by the whirlwind nature of his arrival at his new club, which saw him fly out to Saudi on Monday night, before undergoing a medical the next morning and then being greeted by thousands of cheering fans at Al Nassr's Mrsool Park stadium on Tuesday.

"For me, it is not the end of my career to come to South Africa," Ronaldo said at a news conference before stepping out on the field at the 25,000 capacity stadium.

I really don't worry about what people say. I took my decision and I have responsibility to change that, but for me, I'm really, really happy to be here."

After what was clearly a slip of the tongue, Ronaldo went on to outline his reasons for joining Al Nassr and said he had turned down "many clubs" around the world to complete one of the most surprising moves in soccer history.

"I want to give a different vision of this country and football. This is why I took this opportunity," he said.

"I know the league is very competitive. People don't know that, but I know because I saw many games."

Ronaldo has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract to play in the Saudi Pro League and will reportedly earn up to USD 200 million a year.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward also said is ready to play straight away with Al Nassr facing Al Ta'ee on Thursday.

However, the 37-year-old Ronaldo was handed a two-match suspension by the English Football Association in November for knocking a mobile phone out of the hand of a supporter after a game against Everton last April.

He had already left United by the time of the ruling, but the FA said the suspension would be transferred to any new club.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Saudi Arabia Club Debut On Hold Over Player Quota

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo faces a wait to make his Al Nassr debut because the Saudi club have exceeded their quota for foreign players, club sources told AFP on Thursday.

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo faces a wait to make his Al Nassr debut because the Saudi club have exceeded their quota for foreign players, club sources told AFP on Thursday. When he was unveiled with great fanfare on Tuesday, the 37-year-old said he was keen to play as soon as possible, starting with Thursday's home game against Al Ta'ee. But Ronaldo, whose deal is worth an estimated 200 million euros to June 2025, is Al Nassr's ninth foreign player -- one more than the eight allowed by Saudi football authorities.

"Al Nassr has not registered him yet because there is no vacancy for a foreign player," one club official, who did not want to be named because he was not authorised to speak to media, told AFP.

"A foreign player must leave to register Ronaldo, either by selling or by terminating the contract by mutual consent."

Al Nassr's foreign contingent includes Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina, Brazilian midfielder Luiz Gustavo and forwards Anderson Talisca of Brazil and Vincent Aboubakar of Cameroon.The Portuguese forward said then that he was looking for a new challenge by coming to Saudi Arabia, adding that he had received offers from around the world.

"I'm a unique player. It's good to come here, I broke all the records there (in Europe) and I want to break a few records here," Ronaldo said.

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Amnesty International urged him to speak out about human rights issues in the deeply conservative monarchy, calling his move part of a "wider pattern of sportswashing", or using sport to deflect criticism.