Sports
Cristiano Ronaldo signs £173m-a-year contract after bitter Man Utd exit
Cristiano Ronaldo has completed a transfer to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr following his acrimonious departure from Manchester United.
The 37-year-old had been without a club since United mutually terminated his contract in November, ending a tumultuous second spell at Old Trafford. The Red Devils relieved Ronaldo of his duties after an explosive and unsanctioned interview with Piers Morgan, in which he most notably criticised manager Erik ten Hag and owners the Glazers while claiming that he was “betrayed” by the club.
Now, though, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has found a new team in Al-Nassr. Ronaldo has penned a lucrative two-and-a-half year deal with the Saudi Arabian outfit and is expected to earn around £173million per year in the Middle East. A statement from the club on Friday night read: “This is more than history in the making.
“This is a signing that will not only inspire our club to achieve even greater success but inspire our league, our nation and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves. Welcome, Cristiano, to your new home.”
Ronaldo added: “Al Nassr’s vision is very inspiring and impressive. I look forward to a different league experience in a different country. I am excited to join my team-mates as soon as possible.”
Al-Nassr currently sit at the top of the Saudi Pro League, having won seven of their opening 10 matches. They’ve conceded just six goals in the process, while Cameroon star Vincent Aboubakar leading the line. Ronaldo’s new side, managed by French boss Rudi Garcia, drew 1-1 with fourth-place Al-Hilal on Boxing Day. Ex-Benfica ace Anderson Talisca scored one of their goals, as former Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina played between the posts.
With Ronaldo set to join the attack, Al-Nassr could become a force to be reckoned with, as Garcia and co attempt to dominate their nation and the Club World Cup also a growing priority. Al-Hilal came fourth in the 2021 tournament, with Chelsea winning the competition after beating Brazilian side Palmeiras in the final.
Al-Nassr could be the next Saudi side on the world stage and Ronaldo will no-doubt be keen to help them on their way, especially given his remarkable goalscoring record for club and country over the years. Although Ronaldo struggled in his final months at Old Trafford, scoring just three goals in 16 appearances for United, he found the net an impressive 24 times during the 2021-22 campaign.
Throughout his 21-year senior career, Ronaldo has racked up a whopping 701 club goals in 951 appearances, winning a series of major honours in the meantime. The Portuguese megastar has collected seven league titles in three different countries – namely England, Spain and Italy – five Champions League trophies and an array of honours, both collectively and as an individual.
Feyenoord boss, Arne Slot has been named as Liverpool’s new manager, succeeding German Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Speaking shortly after he was confirmed as Liverpool’s new head coach, Slot says the opportunity to work at one at of the “biggest clubs in the world “was “difficult to ignore”.
The Reds agreed a compensation deal worth £9.4m with Feyenoord in April after the 45-year-old was identified as the man to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Klopp, who had been in charge of Liverpool since October 2015, left the club following their season-finale win against Wolves on Sunday.
After the game, the 56-year-old German called on Liverpool fans to get behind their new boss, chanting “Arne Slot, na na na na na”.
Slot’s three-year contract at Liverpool will officially start on 1 June, subject to a work permit.
“It is certainly not an easy decision to close the door behind you at a club where you have experienced so many wonderful moments and worked successfully with so many wonderful people,” Slot told Feyenoord’s club website.
“But as a sportsman, an opportunity to become a head coach in the Premier League, at one of the biggest clubs in the world, is difficult to ignore.”
The Dutchman led Feyenoord to the 2022-23 Eredivisie title, while this season they have won the Dutch Cup and finished second in the league.
The club’s general manager Dennis te Kloese said: “At Feyenoord you don’t like to let go of a trainer who has meant as much to the club as Arne.
“At the same time, we understand very well that working at a club like Liverpool is a special and unique opportunity for him. With that in mind, we started the conversation to see if we could find a solution together, and in the end we succeeded.”
It is believed that the attacking style of Slot’s teams, his personality and his ability to develop players were key factors in making him Liverpool’s top choice for the job.
Slot took over as Feyenoord manager in 2021 and confirmed his interest in managing in the Premier League when he was linked with Tottenham in 2023.
Anfield
Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, who guided Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title this season, was also linked with the position at Anfield.
But the 42-year-old Spaniard ended speculation in March when he said he would remain with Leverkusen for the time being.
Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim was also reported to have been a contender to take over from Klopp, who announced in January he would leave Anfield at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
Slot’s route to Liverpool
A former midfielder, Slot spent his entire playing career in the Netherlands, making more than 100 appearances for both FC Zwolle and NAC Breda.
After retiring from playing, he began his coaching career as a youth coach at PEC Zwolle before moving to SC Cambuur to become an assistant manager.
He moved to AZ Alkmaar in 2017 and stepped up to become manager two years later. In his first season in charge, they were second, level on points with leaders Ajax, when the Covid-19 pandemic brought the season to a premature end.
He was sacked in December 2020 when it emerged that he had been negotiating with Feyenoord.
Slot took charge of Feyenoord in the summer of 2021 and won the Eredivisie with the club in 2022-23 and triumphed in the Dutch Cup this season.
The Slot era will officially start on 1 June and he will arrive after a thorough recruitment process held by the Reds.
Liverpool’s research, which included looking at data and character among other markers, resulted in Slot emerging as their preferred candidate.
His record with Alkmaar and Feyenoord pointed to a manager able to over-perform compared with the resources at his disposal, an impressive record for developing players and a style of football Liverpool think suits their squad.
Klopp was renowned for his ‘heavy metal’ game and the Reds believe Slot will bring a dynamic, high energy and possession based football to the club.
He has also been given the title of head coach rather than manager in a move that the Anfield club believe reflects the modern game and works better from a structural perspective.
Slot has a hard act to follow in Klopp and we will find out next season if the data matches up with results and performances on the pitch.
Manchester City are champions of the 2023/24 English Premier League season after defeating West Ham 3-1 at the Etihad on the campaign’s final day.
The Citizen clinched the title after finishing just two points over Arsenal, who defeated Everton 2-1 at the Emirate Stadium.
The latest title triumph is Man City’s fourth consecutive title, a record-setting achievement for Pep Guardiola’s side.
It is also the club’s 10th EPL title and the sixth since Guardiola took over the team in 2016.
A Phil Foden brace and Rodri’s shot in second-half ensured Man City ended the season with 91 points over Arsenal’s accumulated total of 89.
The two teams’ performances took the title race to the season’s final day, and the Citizens executed their plans to perfection.
Arsenal had to come from a goal down against Everton, but their effort proved short of the indefatigable champions.
Idrissa Gueye put Everton ahead early in the first half after his freekick was deflected past David Raya by Declan Rice into the net. The Gunners struck back three minutes later when Takehiro Tomiyaso stroked the ball home after Martin Odegaard teed him up.
Kai Havertz completed the come-back for Mikel Arteta’s side with one of the final kicks of the game.
Elsewhere, Jurgen Klopp got a winning farewell in his final game at Anfield, thanks to a Liverpool 2-0 victory over ten-men Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Chelsea confirmed their return to European football next season with a 2-1 win over Bournemouth, while Manchester United will hope to win the FA Cup for a chance to play European football next season after finishing eighth in the league despite a 2-0 win at Brighton.
Luton join Burnley and Sheffield United to be relegated from the EPL following a 4-2 loss to Fulham at home.
RESULTS
Arsenal 2-1 Everton
Brentford 2-4 Newcastle United
Brighton 0-2 Manchester United
Burnley 1-2 Nott. Forest
Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth
Crystal Palace 5-0 Aston Villa
Liverpool 2-0 Wolves
Luton 2-4 Fulham
Manchester City 3-1 West Ham
Sheffield Utd 0-3 Tottenham
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