No comment from Saudi Al-Nassr club if Cristiano Ronaldo deal is a go

No comment from Saudi Al-Nassr club if Cristiano Ronaldo deal is a go
Cristiano Ronaldo made history as the first male player to score in five World Cups in Portugal's opening game in Qatar against Ghana. (File/AFP)
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Updated 01 December 2022
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No comment from Saudi Al-Nassr club if Cristiano Ronaldo deal is a go

No comment from Saudi Al-Nassr club if Cristiano Ronaldo deal is a go
  • Ronaldo became a free agent after recently having his contract with Manchester United terminated
  • Saudi deal would be biggest ever in world football, with Ronaldo earning a reported $210m a year

RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo could be on the verge of joining Saudi club Al-Nassr on a world record two-and-a-half-year contract worth almost $518 million, according Spanish newspaper Marca, and other English and French media outlets.

Ronaldo is currently at the World Cup in Qatar with Portugal, who secured their passage to the round of 16 with a 2-0 win over Uruguay on Monday.

The move by the footballing superstar would be by some distance the most dramatic in the history of Saudi and Asian football, and would likely attract millions of new international followers to the Saudi Pro League and, potentially, the AFC Champions League.

Ronaldo recently had his contract at Manchester United terminated after criticizing club manager Eric ten Hag, management and players in a controversial interview with Piers Morgan aired just days before the start of the World Cup.

Rumors around the potential move began shortly after the start of Qatar 2022, but Ronaldo has remained tight-lipped, saying only that any discussion of a deal with Al-Nassr or elsewhere will have to wait till after the World Cup.

With no transfer fee for any potential new club, the 37-year-old Ronaldo would receive a financially attractive signing-on fee and $210 million per year from what could possibly be the last major contract of his outstanding career.

Ronaldo began his career at Sporting Lisbon before making his name with Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, where he won three Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League.

In the summer of 2009 he joined Real Madrid for a world record fee of around $95 million, and went on to win four Champions League medals and two La Liga titles at the Bernabeu.

In 2018, he moved to Juventus, where he won two Serie A titles, before returning to Manchester United ahead of the 2021-22 season.

He also captained Portugal to the Euro 2016 title, and is international football’s record goalscorer with 118 goals.

So far there has been no comment from the Al-Nassr regarding the deal.


Kingdom’s Youssef Masrahi qualifies for 400-meter final at Asian Games

Kingdom’s Youssef Masrahi qualifies for 400-meter final at Asian Games
Updated 29 September 2023
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Kingdom’s Youssef Masrahi qualifies for 400-meter final at Asian Games

Kingdom’s Youssef Masrahi qualifies for 400-meter final at Asian Games
  • Asian record holder finishes second in semifinal in 45.64 seconds
  • Abdullah Abkar, Nasser Mahmoud through to semifinals of 100-meters

HANGZHOU, China: Saudi athlete Youssef Masrahi has qualified for the final of the men’s 400-meters at the 19th Asian Games.
The Asian record holder secured his place in the medal race after finishing second in his semifinal at the Olympic Stadium on Friday in a time of 45.64 seconds. Japan’s Sato Fuga won the race in 45.56.
Masrahi took the gold medal in the 400 at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, where he also broke the Asian record with a time of 44.46.
His teammate, Mazen Alyassin, failed to qualify for the 400 final after coming home fourth in his semifinal in a time of 46.13.
Meanwhile, Saudi sprinter Abdullah Abkar made it through to the semifinals of the 100-meters after finishing fourth in his heat in a time of 10.30. He will be joined by teammate Nasser Mahmoud, who qualified in 10.50.
Esports
The Kingdom’s esports team of Abdulrahman Al-Fahad, Abdulrahman Al-Aroui, Khaled Al-Abdulaziz and Ahmed Al-Qahtani have been eliminated from the Games after losing in the last 16 of the Peace Elite contest.
Boxing
Boxer Mohamed Al-Sabhi was also eliminated from the Games after losing to his Uzbek rival on a judges’ decision in the last 16 of the 80 kg category.
Table Tennis
The Kingdom’s Azam Alaam and Khalid Al-Shareef were knocked out of the table tennis doubles competition after losing 3-0 to their opponents from Chinese Taipei in the last 16.
Fencing
The Saudi fencing team of Ahmed Al-Hussein, Khalifa Al-Umairi, Jawad Al-Daoud and Faisal Aabid were also eliminated on Friday, after going down by 45-43 to Japan in the quarterfinals of the epee category.
Golf
The Kingdom’s golfers ended their second round on Friday, with Othman Al-Mulla shooting 70, Ali Al-Sekhi 71, Faisal Al-Salhab 72 and Saud Al-Sharif 73.


Ronaldo and Talisca take Al-Nassr to 3rd in Saudi Pro League

Ronaldo and Talisca take Al-Nassr to 3rd in Saudi Pro League
Updated 29 September 2023
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Ronaldo and Talisca take Al-Nassr to 3rd in Saudi Pro League

Ronaldo and Talisca take Al-Nassr to 3rd in Saudi Pro League
  • Portuguese star linked up well with Anderson Talisca and the pair look to be enjoying themselves
  • Yellows fans now see their side just a point behind leaders Al-Ittihad who were held to a 0-0 draw at Al-Fayha

RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 10th of the season as Al-Nassr made it six from six in the league on Friday with a 2-1 win at Al-Tai.

The Portuguese star linked up well with Anderson Talisca and the pair look to be enjoying themselves.

The same can be said for fans of the Yellows who now see their side just a point behind leaders Al-Ittihad who were held to a 0-0 draw at Al-Fayha.

After starting the campaign with two defeats in the first two games, Al-Nassr are showing themselves to be capable of putting teams to the sword and grinding out victories when they need to.

This was more the latter, and it was a close-run thing. The visitors moved ahead just after the half hour to quieten the vociferous home fans, and it was a beauty. Ronaldo, on the edge of the area, flicked the ball up for the advancing Talisca to fire home from the right side of the box for his third in two games. It was a fifth assist of the season so far for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

The goal had been coming as Al-Nassr had been pushing forward, with Ronaldo missing good chances earlier in the game.

From one opportunity Talisca had set up his captain, running into the area and supplying the unmarked Portuguese international who, to the surprise of everyone, unleashed a shot that lacked power and enabled Victor Braga to save.

Ronaldo had a slightly tougher chance six minutes before the break. Marcelo Brozovic made use of plenty of space in the middle of the Al-Tai half to chip a perfect pass into the area. On the right corner of the six-yard box, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star fired a half-volley just wide of the post.

The half ended with a spectacular overhead kick by Ronaldo finding Talisca at the far post but, while the Brazilian rounded the goalkeeper to roll the ball home, he was just offside.

It was not all one-way traffic, though. Al-Tai wanted a penalty early in the second half and came close to an equalizer on the hour, but Nawaf Al-Aqidi got down quickly at his near post to push a smart free-kick from Anselmo around the post.

Ronaldo looked to have provided his side’s second on 63 minutes but his header was palmed away acrobatically by the busy Braga.

And then, with 11 minutes remaining, Al-Tai did score. Abdulrahman Al-Harthi produced a beautiful pass that sent Virgil Misidjan sprinting free of three Al-Nassr defenders and the Dutch forward rolled the ball home.

A draw looked likely, but Al-Nassr grabbed the winner with three minutes left as Anselmo handled a Talisca header and Ronaldo fired home from the spot.

Al-Nassr now have 18 points from eight games and are breathing down the neck of champions and leaders Al-Ittihad, who were held to a goalless draw at Al-Fahya.

Al-Ittihad, again without the injured striker Karim Benzema, had the better chances in the first half.

Abderrazak Hamdallah was denied at close range by Vladimir Stojkovic. The Serbian stopper could then only watch as a thunderbolt from Ahmed Bamsaud rocketed back off the crossbar.

Al-Fayha had their chances but the game remained goalless.

Al-Ittihad stay top but are now level on points with Al-Taawoun who won 3-1 at Al-Hazm.


Leipzig part ways with a key executive linked with Bayern Munich a day before playing Bayern

Leipzig part ways with a key executive linked with Bayern Munich a day before playing Bayern
Updated 29 September 2023
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Leipzig part ways with a key executive linked with Bayern Munich a day before playing Bayern

Leipzig part ways with a key executive linked with Bayern Munich a day before playing Bayern
  • The decision came a day before Leipzig play Bayern in the Bundesliga
  • Leipzig said Eberl had been “relieved ... of his duties with immediate effect”

LEIPZIG, Germany: Leipzig parted ways with their top sports executive Max Eberl on Friday citing a “failure to commit to the club” amid speculation linking him with Bayern Munich. The decision came a day before Leipzig plays Bayern in the Bundesliga.
Leipzig said Eberl had been “relieved ... of his duties with immediate effect.” The club denied the decision was linked to the team’s performance or signings.
“His failure to commit to the club has led to us making this decision. It has nothing to do with the squad’s rebuild or results on the pitch,” the club said.
Reports in Germany in recent days have indicated that Eberl could be of interest to Bayern, which have shaken up their own management structure after difficulties on the field last season and off-field issues including the firing of coach Julian Nagelsmann in March and replacing him with Thomas Tuchel.
Eberl, who was a Bayern player in the early 1990s, had pointed to his Leipzig contract when asked about the speculation and said he wanted to focus on the upcoming game against Bayern, in comments published by the Sport Bild newspaper on Wednesday.
Leipzig are a point behind league leader Bayern before the two teams meet Saturday.
As managing director for sport, Eberl joined Leipzig last year and was credited with overseeing a rebuild which has seen established players like Joško Gvardiol and Dominik Szoboszlai depart for large price tags and the arrival of young talents like Loïs Openda and Paris Saint-Germain loanee Xavi Simons.
Leipzig said sporting director Rouven Schröder would move into Eberl’s role.


Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk to fight for undisputed heavyweight crown in Riyadh

Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk to fight for undisputed heavyweight crown in Riyadh
Updated 29 September 2023
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Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk to fight for undisputed heavyweight crown in Riyadh

Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk to fight for undisputed heavyweight crown in Riyadh
  • Contest will be ‘boxing event of the century,’ promoter Frank Warren says
  • Usyk defended his titles against British fighter Daniel Dubois in August

LONDON: WBC title holder Tyson Fury and WBA, WBO and IBF champion Oleksandr Usyk will fight for the undisputed world heavyweight crown in Riyadh, it was announced on Friday.

Additional details, including the date of the contest, will be released soon.

“Delighted to finally get this fight signed. This is the biggest fight that could possibly be made in our sport,” Queensbury promoter Frank Warren said.

“The heavyweights always spark the imagination of the fans and I have no doubt this will be the biggest boxing event of the century.”

Usyk’s promoter, Alexander Krassyuk, said: “I can’t believe that it’s happening but it is.”

Usyk, who has won all 21 of his professional bouts, defended his titles against British fighter Daniel Dubois in August.

Fury will fight a non-title bout against MMA star Francis Ngannou on Oct. 28, also in Riyadh.

That fight is part of the Riyadh Season of events for 2023.

Earlier talks for a Fury-Usyk fight to be staged at Wembley Stadium in London in April fell apart.

The last fight to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion was in 1999, when Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield.


Man Utd’s Martinez ruled out for ‘extended period’

Man Utd’s Martinez ruled out for ‘extended period’
Updated 29 September 2023
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Man Utd’s Martinez ruled out for ‘extended period’

Man Utd’s Martinez ruled out for ‘extended period’
  • Lisandro Martinez will be out of action for an extended period due to an aggravation of the foot injury he suffered in April
  • Defender Sergio Reguilon will miss the game against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford

LONDON: Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has been ruled out for an “extended period” after aggravating a foot injury he suffered last season.
Martinez was sidelined for around two months when he sustained a fractured metatarsal in United’s Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla in April.
The Argentina center-back is now likely to be out of action for a similar period after United confirmed the foot problem is still an issue.
“Lisandro Martinez will be out of action for an extended period due to an aggravation of the foot injury he suffered in April,” a statement said.
“The Argentinian defender experienced the setback in our Premier League game against Arsenal earlier this month.
“Martinez bravely continued playing for the following two games against Brighton and Bayern Munich.
“But it has now been determined that he needs a period on the sidelines for recovery and rehabilitation. Assessment is ongoing to decide next steps.”
Adding to United boss Erik ten Hag’s problems, the club also confirmed that defender Sergio Reguilon will miss the game against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday with a “minor injury.”