'It was a collective work' - Al-Nassr executive shares how the Saudi side lured world superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to their club

Ronaldo joined the Saudi Pro League team in January and signed a lucrative two-year contract with the club. He has been in fantastic form for the Riyadh side, scoring 25 goals in 30 matches.

Ronaldo's arrival at the Saudi Pro League was followed by many big names heading to the Middle East. His old Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema, ex-Chelsea star N'Golo Kante, former Liverpool trio Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho and Wolves' Ruben Neves all followed suit.

Salazar says he has been amazed by Ronaldo's impact and dedication since he joined the club, telling Philipp Kessler: "The transfer was definitely a big earthquake. It was a very ambitious and brillant move from our club. It was a collective work.

"To convince a big star like Cristiano, you have to present him a good project. It’s not only about money. Cristiano is a legend. Every time you check his numbers, you get surprised. This guy seems to be limitless. He has a lot of ambitions. You have to offer him the possibility to continue his amazing path in the world of football - and that’s what we did.

"What impresses me the most is how committed he is: the level of professionalism that he shows every minute in the club and outside of it, all the infrastructure that he builds in his house to have the best recovery, to be in the best possible condition every game. It also impresses me how simple he is with everyone at the club. But he is competitive. And competitors like to win."

Ronaldo could be involved when Portugal take on Slovakia in Euro 2024 qualifying on Friday, as he linked up with the squad for international duty.