According to former Man Utd striker Odion Ighalo, the huge income at Al Nassr is the reason Cristiano Ronaldo gave up European football to play in the Saudi Pro League.
"When you're young, you play for passion. You don't care about money," Ighalo told OmaSportsTV when asked about his motivation for playing in Saudi Arabia. "But at 30, at the end of my career, I don't know if I can play for one or two more years. At most, I'll play for three more years. My whole career I played for passion, now it's for money. I'm not one of those players who comes here and says I play for passion."
Ighalo at his debut with Al Hilal in the summer of 2022. Photo: Al Hilal
Ighalo, 34, played for Man Utd on loan in 2020-2021, scoring five goals in 23 matches. He then moved to Saudi Arabia. In the 2021-2022 season, the Nigerian striker was the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League with 24 goals for Al Shabab. Last season, he finished third with 19 goals for Al Hilal, behind Al Nassr's Talisca (20 goals) and Al-Ittihad's Abderrazak Hamdallah (21).
Ighalo stressed that Ronaldo's move to Al Nassr was no exception. "Does Ronaldo still play football for passion?", he asked. "He has earned 100 times more than what I have earned in my entire life, but he still comes to Saudi. Does Ronaldo come here to play for passion? No, my friend, it's all about money."
Ronaldo joined Al Nassr on a free transfer after agreeing to terminate his contract six months early with Man Utd. At his new club, he will receive the world's highest salary of 75 million USD per year. His income could increase to 200 million USD through advertising activities and brand representation.
"I'm lucky to have won everything in Europe. I feel now is the right time to share my experience in Asia. I look forward to joining my new teammates and helping the club achieve great things," Ronaldo once said about his motivation to go to Saudi Arabia on the day he signed a contract with Al Nassr.
Ronaldo walks past Ighalo during the Al Nassr - Al Hilal match in the Saudi Pro League last season. Photo: AFP
Ighalo is currently a free agent after Al Hilal did not renew his contract after the 2022-2023 season. The Nigerian striker believes the club made the decision to clear the way for Lionel Messi, whose contract with PSG expires in June. Therefore, Ighalo was shocked when the Argentine star rejected an offer of $440 million in the season - double Ronaldo's - to move to Inter Miami.
Messi earns between $50 million and $60 million a season under his two-year contract with Inter Miami. The 36-year-old striker also gets a share of revenue from new MLS subscriptions on Apple TV , as well as a share of Adidas 's US profits.
Hong Duy
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