Al Nassr deny claims former president felt 'CHEATED' by Ronaldo move
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr is forced to deny claims that their former president said he felt ‘CHEATED’ by the Portuguese star’s $212m-a-year move… just two days after his resignation over the club’s lackluster season
- The alleged comment was made to a seemingly-made up news organisation
- But the legendary Portuguese forward hasn’t had the ideal start to life in Riyadh
- Ronaldo is on course for an unwanted first in his storied 21-season career
Al-Nassr rubbished claims that their former president Musalli Al-Muammar had said the club had been ‘cheated’ by Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to the Saudi side after reports appeared claiming that Al-Muammar had joked about the transfer to an Arabic news outlet.
Al-Muammar brought Ronaldo to the Saudi Pro League outfit after an explosive end to his second spell at Manchester United.
But his stint in Saudi Arabia has been less than dazzling, and following a disappointing league campaign and an early exit from the King Cup of Champions, there have been whisperings that Al-Nassr may be coming to regret their high profile signing.
Spanish newspaper El Desmarque reported that Al-Muammar had made the comments in interview with Arabic News 50: ‘
But Al-Nassr’s press advisor Walid Al-Muhaidib vehemently denied that the jibe had been made, calling the allegation ‘false’ and pointing out that there was no such outlet as Arabic News 50.
Speaking to EFE news agency, Al-Muhaidib said: ‘The talk in the Spanish press that we cheated on the Ronaldo deal, based on the Arabia News 50 website, is false and incorrect.
‘The press came up with his joke and thought it was true.’
Al-Muammar resigned from his role at the helm of the Riyadh club on Wednesday in the wake of Al-Nassr’s imperfect season, which is set to conclude on May 31.
After submitting his resignation letter to the Saudi Ministry of Sports, Al-Muammar also dissolved the current board of directors, with a view to a fresh start before the season’s end.
The president is not the only casualty at the club of late – head coach Rudi Garcia was sacked on April 13 following a poor run of form.
The manager, who is said to have fallen out with his players and failed to impress his £175m-a-year signing, has since been replaced by the club’s Under 19 coach, Dinko Jelicic.
Al-Nassr currently sit second place in the league table behind Al-Ittihad by just three points, but their title rivals have two games in hand.
Following their last league defeat against Al-Hilal, Ronaldo courted controversy by seeming to make a lewd gesture at fans taunting him as he made his way down the tunnel at the King Fahd International Stadium.
Saudi lawyer Nouf bin Ahmed called for the player to be deported after a video of the incident circulated on Twitter.
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