‘Ultimate influencer’ Ronaldo’s mixed season in Saudi Arabia

Five months after he shocked the football world by signing for Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo’s first season in Saudi Arabia is set to end with mixed results.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is not going to add to the seven league titles won in England, Spain and Italy as his Riyadh-based club will finish second behind newly-crowned champions Al Ittihad ahead of the last match of the season on Wednesday. Al Nassr were also dumped out of the Saudi Cup in the semifinals.But Ronaldo’s numbers on the pitch remain impressive; he has scored 14 goals in 16 league games in Saudi Arabia so far. Al Nassr may have struggled to match the consistency and defensive prowess of Al Ittihad, but they have qualified for the next edition of the Asian Champions League.

“In some matches, he stood out; in others, he didn’t, but we all know what he can do,” said Roel Coumans, head coach of Saudi Professional League club Abha, who lost 2-1 to Al Nassr in March with Ronaldo scoring the equalising goal.

“Al Nassr have some very good players who can help and he needs support but there is no doubt that he raises the level of the team.”

There has been some upheaval during Ronaldo’s time at Al Nassr. In April, coach Rudi Garcia left the club amid reports that Ronaldo was unhappy with the French coach’s methods and tactics. There is no doubt that Ronaldo has played an important part in leading the team. If he misses a chance or loses possession, his anger with himself is clear for all to see – as are the demands and expectations he has from his teammates.“Not enough attention is paid to his teammates and how he has changed the [competitive] mentality of the dressing room and the club,” said former Singapore international Sasi Kumar, now CEO of Madrid-based sports marketing company D+1. “I would love to be his teammate and see how a world champion behaves and prepares.”

Behind the scenes, Saudi football officials hope that the league will not only become the clear number one in Asia but also one of the best in the world. Ronaldo has, more than once, said it openly.

“It’s difficult to imagine [top 5] happening but it is a nice ambition,” he said. “When you look from the perspective of that goal, then you need this kind of exposure. The arrival of top-class foreign players will make a difference. The standard is definitely improving.”

Ronaldo’s presence also means that reports of Lionel Messi heading to Riyadh rivals Al Hilal are taken seriously and, regardless of whether the Argentinian great does head to Saudi Arabia, a number of top-class imports are expected to arrive this summer.

“It all starts with one person,” said Kumar. “Get a high-profile star and the next guy starts thinking, ‘If Ronaldo can go there, then it is good enough for me.’”

Coumans is concerned, however, that despite the rise in standards, there are possible negative consequences for Saudi players as the number of foreign players that can take the field increases from seven to eight next season.

“If you want to be in the top five then you need these kind of stars but you also have to look at the development of Saudi football,” he said. “The young players will learn from the big stars but if they are not playing every week then they can’t develop as they wish.”