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Cristiano Ronaldo - Much Ado About Al Nassr

bosnian_red

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Jorge Mendes got his last pay day from Ronaldo with this Saudi move and then bailed on him, smart guy
 

Suedesi

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Jorge Mendes got his last pay day from Ronaldo with this Saudi move and then bailed on him, smart guy
He was not involved in the Saudi deal, so you could say he missed out on the biggest deal

But, if even Jorge Mendes kept his distance from Cristiano, you can imagine how toxic he must have become - certainly the dressing room at United feels fresher after he's gone.

Good luck in South Africa
 

ayushreddevil9

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One day he will speak up in another interview acknowledging that his interview with Piers Morgan was a mistake...

with the hoster being Piers Morgan.
 

fallengt

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It's fecking sad that even his 2nd in command, Mendes and Santos turned on him.
If you want to play for a Saudi club badly, just fecking say it.
 

NYAS

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There's still a big problem in Saudi Arabia about this nowadays, because usually most professional players come from upper middle class or upper class families.
The less unfortunate players don't get as many chances as the ones who come from wealthy families, but I've read that this problem is being sorted in the last few years.

I actually knew some teams from there due to playing the japanese version of Winning Eleven where you had J-League teams plus some asian ones.

In USA and Japan, the evolution was good, but I think the ceiling is being reached IMO, for similar reasons (football is still a lot behind baseball in Japan and, imagine that, on par with Sumo Wrestling, whose national tournament is taken very seriously over there. Yokozunas earn millions per year and even "division 2" sumo wrestlers get 100K+ in wages and prizes.
In American football has to compete against Basketball, American Handegg, Baseball and NHL.

If you check Landon Donovan generation, almost all their players were also playing in Europe. Sure, they didn't had any player playing in a "real top club" like they have now, but I think the overall talent is similar.

The woman leading is a thing that the press is boasting as the "Ronaldo effect", nothing to be taken serious but I'm pretty sure millions of people will buy this kind of "information". This is one of the goals of this circus: these kind of "news" improve Saudi Arabia image, even though not much is going to change there.
This is wrong. Most local players in Saudi come from middle class families.
 

André Dominguez

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This is wrong. Most local players in Saudi come from middle class families.
Probably common nowadays. But the article that I've read was some years ago pointed Saudi Arabia as one of the countries where lower classes had less chance of getting chances in football, even in grassroots. Can't recall the source, it was many years ago. It was not only about Saudi Arabia, it was about countries where footballers were mainly picked by their family social status.

Things might got better nowadays or maybe that article wasn't that accurate. I don't live in Saudi Arabia to testify this as a 100% true, obviously.
 

the_cliff

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Probably common nowadays. But the article that I've read was some years ago pointed Saudi Arabia as one of the countries where lower classes had less chance of getting chances in football, even in grassroots. Can't recall the source, it was many years ago. It was not only about Saudi Arabia, it was about countries where footballers were mainly picked by their family social status.

Things might got better nowadays or maybe that article wasn't that accurate. I don't live in Saudi Arabia to testify this as a 100% true, obviously.
As someone who lives in the Middle East that's not true at all from my experience. Usually the higher class kids are not interested in playing football, more watching it and playing FIFA. It also helps that they're probably already richer than what they would get if they turned pro anyway. There has not been 1 professional footballer that I can recall from a big family in Qatar, UAE or Saudi Arabia and Yes the richest families with the biggest influences are known by name in those countries...

Most pro ballers in the Middle East come from middle to lower class families. In Saudi they're usually from Yemeni families that migrated some generations ago as compared to actual Saudi descents...
 

DWelbz19

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Apparently he had a falling out with Mendes in November and he's no longer his agent, according to the press in Portugal. He used another agent to complete the deal to Al Nassr.
Unsurprising if true. Jorge Mendes is meant to be THE man in football and he couldn’t even secure Cristiano fecking Ronaldo (albeit at 36-37) a move to a big club in the summer. It was flat out embarrassing watching clubs publicly air the fact that they wanted nothing to do with CR37 in the summer window
 

NYAS

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Probably common nowadays. But the article that I've read was some years ago pointed Saudi Arabia as one of the countries where lower classes had less chance of getting chances in football, even in grassroots. Can't recall the source, it was many years ago. It was not only about Saudi Arabia, it was about countries where footballers were mainly picked by their family social status.

Things might got better nowadays or maybe that article wasn't that accurate. I don't live in Saudi Arabia to testify this as a 100% true, obviously.
Article was not accurate mate. If anything, a higher proportion of players back then were “middle class” compared to now. Actually at that time, a lot of players came from 2nd-generation Saudi families that had Yemeni/Somali/Sudanese origin and were less wealthy than “original” Saudi families.

Although it must be said that “middle class” in Saudi Arabia is probably comparable to “upper middle class” in most other places around the world.

Our main football problem in the Gulf is although we have some talented players that could easily play in Europe, they are paid too well here and rarely play abroad.
 

André Dominguez

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Article was not accurate mate. If anything, a higher proportion of players back then were “middle class” compared to now. Actually at that time, a lot of players came from 2nd-generation Saudi families that had Yemeni/Somali/Sudanese origin and were less wealthy than “original” Saudi families.

Although it must be said that “middle class” in Saudi Arabia is probably comparable to “upper middle class” in most other places around the world.

Our main problem in the Gulf is although we have talented players that could easily play in Europe, they are paid too well here and rarely play abroad.
Thanks for the insight and feedback, mate. Always better to get info from people who live there, as sometimes most of these articles are based on a small slice of the country. Yes, middle class in SA is probably rich in other countries, but for the living cost of the SA they are still middle class.

Not necessarily a bad thing to have high wages, if you ask me. If it wasn't for this SA National team would probably be a bit more competitive, but your national league would loose a lot of quality. Not entirely sure the positives would surpass the negatives.
 

André Dominguez

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As someone who lives in the Middle East that's not true at all from my experience. Usually the higher class kids are not interested in playing football, more watching it and playing FIFA. It also helps that they're probably already richer than what they would get if they turned pro anyway. There has not been 1 professional footballer that I can recall from a big family in Qatar, UAE or Saudi Arabia and Yes the richest families with the biggest influences are known by name in those countries...

Most pro ballers in the Middle East come from middle to lower class families. In Saudi they're usually from Yemeni families that migrated some generations ago as compared to actual Saudi descents...
Thanks for the insight. the article was probably based on a small country sample or just lazy journalism.
 

the_cliff

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Article was not accurate mate. If anything, a higher proportion of players back then were “middle class” compared to now. Actually at that time, a lot of players came from 2nd-generation Saudi families that had Yemeni/Somali/Sudanese origin and were less wealthy than “original” Saudi families.

Although it must be said that “middle class” in Saudi Arabia is probably comparable to “upper middle class” in most other places around the world.

Our main football problem in the Gulf is although we have some talented players that could easily play in Europe, they are paid too well here and rarely play abroad.
Tanzanian origin as well, In Qatar there are many of Iraqi origin as well.

The bolded is also a good point, many Saudi/Qatari/Emirati teams raid North African clubs for their young talent and end up staying in the Gulf their whole careers because they won't find a club in Europe that would even give them half of their wages. Baghdad Bounedjah is an example, Omar Abdulrahman is another one, although he is Emirati.
 

King Eric 7

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Mendes was extremely close to Ronaldo, wasn't he? More than just an agent but considered a part of the family.

What a way to end an amazing career in football. His wife looked like she was hiding a lot of pain out there.
 

NYAS

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Tanzanian origin as well, In Qatar there are many of Iraqi origin as well.

The bolded is also a good point, many Saudi/Qatari/Emirati teams raid North African clubs for their young talent and end up staying in the Gulf their whole careers because they won't find a club in Europe that would even give them half of their wages. Baghdad Bounedjah is an example, Omar Abdulrahman is another one, although he is Emirati.
The Levant too. People like Al-Somah and Khribin could easily have played in Europe.
 

clarkydaz

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Imagine in some way United won the premier league whilst he was in Saudi Arabia. that would be glorious
 

Pintu

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harms

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"Why couldn't we have gone to LA?" is all I saw when I seen a random clip of his family being there. It can't be that bad money-wise in the MLS given it's nailed on Messi is retiring in Miami. Guess the MLS didn't really want him either :lol:
I'd imagine that MLS would've loved to get the Messi vs Cristiano thing going again to be fair.
 

Swoobs

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https://theathletic.com/4053828/2023/01/04/ricardo-regufe-cristiano-ronaldo-al-nassr/

Ricardo Regufe: Cristiano Ronaldo’s right-hand man who negotiated £173million-a-year Saudi deal

Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia — where he will earn more than any footballer in history — was negotiated by his friend and personal manager Ricardo Regufe rather than agent Jorge Mendes, The Athletic can reveal.

Regufe — pronounced re-ju-fey — has known Ronaldo since the early 2000s through his work with the Portugal national team while at Nike. In recent years, he has grown increasingly prominent, to the point that he took a key role on this seismic deal. Ronaldo also personally negotiated with Al Nassr, supported by his lawyer. It is understood Mendes was not involved.


For much of their working relationship, Regufe’s brief has focused on Ronaldo’s commercial interests. He is not an agent but has now stepped into the sporting side too, and was heavily involved in talks with Manchester United over Ronaldo’s exit. Regufe is described as a “very good operator” by a source who has worked with him but spoke anonymously to protect their relationships in the industry.

Mendes has represented Ronaldo since his days as a youngster at Sporting Lisbon, agreeing moves to United, Real Madrid, Juventus and United again, as well as sorting several lucrative contracts, so his absence in this latest chapter is significant.

There is chatter in the industry that Ronaldo was frustrated over events in the summer when his desire to leave Old Trafford for a Champions League team went unfulfilled.

Mendes, meanwhile, is said to have grown frustrated at Ronaldo’s refusal to accept it was not possible to find a European club. Champions League teams turned down the chance to take Ronaldo for as little as £80,000 per week, with United willing to subsidise the rest of his salary to facilitate a departure in the last window.

In the circumstances, Mendes advised Ronaldo to stay at United, accept his role in Erik ten Hag’s squad and prove his talent on the pitch when called upon. A good season might have brought Champions League teams to the table next summer, or even seen United trigger the one-year extension in his contract.

Ronaldo could have performed a useful if not integral role under Ten Hag and the United manager tried to persuade him of this. Regufe also advocated that Ronaldo fight for his place at Old Trafford.

But Ronaldo’s mind was made up and there have been suggestions he took the initiative. An agent, who doesn’t work for Ronaldo and wished to stay anonymous to protect their relationships, told The Athletic that the 37-year-old called at least one European club executive himself to talk about the prospect of joining. A representative for Ronaldo denied he made direct contact with anybody in club hierarchies.

:lol:
So basically
CR7 - Go find me a UCL club, Europa is beneath my clutchgod mr UCl status
Mendes - Yes my tribal chief

6 months and several pathetic performances for United later

CR7 - which UCL team is begging me for my services?
Mendes - None my tribal chief
CR7 - Impossible! You are useless, you are no wise man. I will contact Bayern myself

After being rejected by all UCL teams and an interview later
CR7 - I will prove those fools wrong in the World Cup

After world cup disrespected him later
CR7 - Wise man, any UCL clubs yet?
Mendes - feck off
CR7 - Fine I will go to South Africa
 

UnitedSofa

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So basically
CR7 - Go find me a UCL club, Europa is beneath my clutchgod mr UCl status
Mendes - Yes my tribal chief

6 months and several pathetic performances for United later

CR7 - which UCL team is begging me for my services?
Mendes - None my tribal chief
CR7 - Impossible! You are useless, you are no wise man. I will contact Bayern myself

After being rejected by all UCL teams and an interview later
CR7 - I will prove those fools wrong in the World Cup

After world cup disrespected him later
CR7 - Wise man, any UCL clubs yet?
Mendes - feck off
CR7 - Fine I will go to South Africa
Nice Reigns/Heyman comparison
 

Maciej

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So, I've seen some news, is he really going to miss his team's next match because he's yet to serve a 2-match ban from FA after that incident with an Everton kid?

:lol:
 

BorisManUtd

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https://theathletic.com/4053828/2023/01/04/ricardo-regufe-cristiano-ronaldo-al-nassr/

Ricardo Regufe: Cristiano Ronaldo’s right-hand man who negotiated £173million-a-year Saudi deal

Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia — where he will earn more than any footballer in history — was negotiated by his friend and personal manager Ricardo Regufe rather than agent Jorge Mendes, The Athletic can reveal.

Regufe — pronounced re-ju-fey — has known Ronaldo since the early 2000s through his work with the Portugal national team while at Nike. In recent years, he has grown increasingly prominent, to the point that he took a key role on this seismic deal. Ronaldo also personally negotiated with Al Nassr, supported by his lawyer. It is understood Mendes was not involved.


For much of their working relationship, Regufe’s brief has focused on Ronaldo’s commercial interests. He is not an agent but has now stepped into the sporting side too, and was heavily involved in talks with Manchester United over Ronaldo’s exit. Regufe is described as a “very good operator” by a source who has worked with him but spoke anonymously to protect their relationships in the industry.

Mendes has represented Ronaldo since his days as a youngster at Sporting Lisbon, agreeing moves to United, Real Madrid, Juventus and United again, as well as sorting several lucrative contracts, so his absence in this latest chapter is significant.

There is chatter in the industry that Ronaldo was frustrated over events in the summer when his desire to leave Old Trafford for a Champions League team went unfulfilled.

Mendes, meanwhile, is said to have grown frustrated at Ronaldo’s refusal to accept it was not possible to find a European club. Champions League teams turned down the chance to take Ronaldo for as little as £80,000 per week, with United willing to subsidise the rest of his salary to facilitate a departure in the last window.

In the circumstances, Mendes advised Ronaldo to stay at United, accept his role in Erik ten Hag’s squad and prove his talent on the pitch when called upon. A good season might have brought Champions League teams to the table next summer, or even seen United trigger the one-year extension in his contract.

Ronaldo could have performed a useful if not integral role under Ten Hag and the United manager tried to persuade him of this. Regufe also advocated that Ronaldo fight for his place at Old Trafford.

But Ronaldo’s mind was made up and there have been suggestions he took the initiative. An agent, who doesn’t work for Ronaldo and wished to stay anonymous to protect their relationships, told The Athletic that the 37-year-old called at least one European club executive himself to talk about the prospect of joining. A representative for Ronaldo denied he made direct contact with anybody in club hierarchies.

:lol:
He won't listen to anyone who is reasonable. Delusional guy :lol:
 

RacingClub

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Just to prove that this isn't the only place laughing the top / most upvoted comment is;

"That's fecking hilarious."
 

Judas

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One of the weirdest and out of touch posts I've seen on here is the bizarre suggestion this place is one of the few places mocking him. The whole world is laughing at him, everyone has come together as one to mock the fella, apart from his special fans.
 

The Firestarter

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Just to prove that this isn't the only place laughing the top / most upvoted comment is;

"That's fecking hilarious."
How can the FA have jurisdiction there , or is it somehow a fifa thing? If indeed true, odds that they play him anyway, realistically who can make them do anything in their own country...
 

RacingClub

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How can the FA have jurisdiction there , or is it somehow a fifa thing?
I think it's a FIFA thing, I'm pretty sure Suarez was banned from playing in LaLiga due to his bite during the 2014 World Cup (he was still a Liverpool player when the bite occured I think) and Rooney was banned for a red in a preseason too (Scholes too?) if I remember correctly?

It's probably just a fine if they play him, just thought it was relevant to the conversation as even if it's not enforced people are finding the entire saga hilarious on Reddit.
 

The Firestarter

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I think it's a FIFA thing, I'm pretty sure Suarez was banned from playing in LaLiga due to his bite during the 2014 World Cup (he was still a Liverpool player when the bite occured I think) and Rooney was banned for a red in a preseason too (Scholes too?) if I remember correctly?

It's probably just a fine if they play him, just thought it was relevant to the conversation as even if it's not enforced people are finding the entire saga hilarious on Reddit.
It is hilarious. It seems that the club was not aware and they didn't think they would need any due diligence on this. Which is kinda expected for the South African league.
 

Cascarino

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One of the weirdest and out of touch posts I've seen on here is the bizarre suggestion this place is one of the few places mocking him. The whole world is laughing at him, everyone has come together as one to mock the fella, apart from his special fans.
It was a very weird post
 

mu4c_20le

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Just to prove that this isn't the only place laughing the top / most upvoted comment is;

"That's fecking hilarious."
This is getting weird. Al Nassr somehow missed out on this rule and sold out the tickets for the match. Of course thats funny. It was also long after I posted when people (only a few to be fair) were still replying with forced laughter at his transfer.

edit: Of course, you're a diehard Messi fan as shown by your post history. Makes sense now why you're camped in here.