Cristiano Ronaldo

RIYADH, Nov 11: Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he moved to Saudi Arabia because he believed in the country’s potential, stating that he considers himself Saudi.

Speaking at the Tourize 2025 forum in Riyadh, Ronaldo explained that he contributes to various sectors in Saudi Arabia and that his decision to move to Riyadh has proven to be the right one.

He also expressed his admiration for Al-Ula and the Red Sea Project, emphasizing his desire to be involved in Saudi Arabia’s major development initiatives.

Ronaldo had previously announced in June that he plans to spend the rest of his life in Saudi Arabia, a decision that influenced his contract renewal with Al-Nassr. He highlighted the country’s safety and peaceful environment as reasons why it is a great place to live.

Al-Nassr confirmed that Ronaldo extended his contract until 2027, allowing him to continue playing beyond his 42nd birthday.

The Portuguese forward joined Al-Nassr in 2022 on a free transfer from Manchester United with a two-and-a-half-year deal and has since scored 99 goals across all competitions.