Marcelo Gallardo, former River coach, will direct next Thursday, January 19, to Riyadh Season which according to his words will be made up of players from Al Hilal (a team led by the Argentine Ramón Díaz) and Al Nassr (leader of the Saudi Arabian tournament that has Cristiano Ronaldo in its formation) against PSG from France, whose top star is Lionel Messi , world champion in Qatar 2022, in Saudi Arabia.
The “Doll” announced his return in a friendly match as part of a festivity that carries the same slogan as the team, Riyadh Season, where the Saudi government promotes various cultural activities.
This year’s edition began at the end of October and will continue until January 22 of this year, and also includes perfume exhibitions, the sale of local products, an amusement park and live shows, such as the one that will close the event with a recital of the American band, Imagine Dragons at the Al Nassr stadium.
Marcelo Gallardo Libertadores ??? pic.twitter.com/wXXF1iisvM
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) January 5, 2023
This is Gallardo’s first job as a coach after his brilliant time at River from 2014 to 2022 where he won two Copa Libertadores (2015 and 2018), a first division championship (2021), three Copa Argentina (2016, 2017 and 2019). , two Argentine Super Cup (2018 and 2019).
He also won a Copa Sudamericana (2014), three Recopa Sudamericana (2015, 2016 and 2019), a Champions Trophy (2021) and a Suruga Bank (2015).
The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo’s presentation at Al Nassr began with a musical spectacle and a light show in the team’s stadium, with the stands practically packed with Saudi fans who chanted the name of their new star amidst flags and scarves bearing his last name and his historic number seven.
Through the official transmission that captured the arrival of the Portuguese star at the stadium from a drone. The Portuguese got out of a luxurious white car while those present shouted the characteristic “Siu” that he popularized with his goals.
After his brand new entrance to the enclosure, Ronaldo walked through the interior of the stadium while greeting everyone he saw passing by and finally he arrived at the press conference room to give his first statements as a new Al Nassr footballer.
“I am very proud to be here. Very proud to have made this great decision in my career. This represents a new challenge. My family has always supported me, especially my children,” the 37-year-old striker began.
As for his presentation at the stadium, he began with a musical show and a light show
“It is a great opportunity not only for football but to change the mentality of my generation. I want to give a new perspective on this country and on this football. I know what I want, with my experience I will be able to contribute a lot to this club”, he explained about his decision to arrive at soccer in Saudi Arabia.
Along the same lines, he added: “Many clubs from Australia, the United States, Portugal tried to sign me. My work in Europe is done, I am proud of a new challenge. It is a challenge, not only football, to sign for Al Nassr“.
“I’ve seen a lot of games in this league and even if people don’t know it, it’s very competitive. If the coach decides, I can play in two days. I don’t care what people say. Today football has evolved and it’s very competitive,” he added.
“I am a unique player. I have broken all the records in Europe and now I want to do it here. It is a unique contract because I am a unique player. The only thing I want is to play and enjoy. It is not the end of my career”, attacked the Portuguese after criticism for his new destination in which he will earn a figure close to 200 million euros per year.
After their first words as Al Nassr footballers, it was the club’s president, Prince Faisal Bin Turki, who took the microphone to welcome them. Then it was the turn of his new coach, the Frenchman Rudi García.
“I’m very happy to have him. My goal with Cristiano is to make him happy and to enjoy Al Nassr’s game. I’m delighted to have a player like him. We’re here to win, nothing more. We’ll have time to talk, now what’s up is train and win”, remarked García.
