Cristiano Ronaldo watches Al Nassr win in heavy rain in Riyadh - in pictures

Portuguese serving two-match ban as he waits to make his debut for Saudi club

Al Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo watches from the stand as his team take on At Ta'ee at the Mrsool Park Stadium in Riyadh on Friday, January 6, 2023. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo in the stands during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Nassr and Al Ta'ee in Riyadh on Friday. Reuters

Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo acknowledges fans at Mrsool Park in Riyadh. Reuters

Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo at the Mrsool Park Stadium in Riyadh. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo poses with fans in Riyadh on Friday. AP

Al Nassr players before the match against Ta'ee. AP

Al Nassr fands watch the game on Friday despite heavy rain. AP

An Al Nassr fan poses showing a shirt with Cristiano Ronaldo's name on it in Riyadh. Reuters

Fans watched Friday's game amid heavy rain and cold. Reuters

An Al Nassr fan poses with a Cristiano Ronaldo's jersey. Reuters

Al Nassr fans sit during heavy rain at Mrsool Park in Riyadh. AP

Saudi fans watched Friday's game in heavy rain. AP

Cristiano Ronaldo was given a far from routine welcome to Saudi football as he watched Al Nassr secure victory on Friday amid heavy rain and cold.

The Portuguese would not have expected wet and windy climate in his first week in Riyadh as he waited to make his debut for the Saudi club after his record deal.

Ronaldo was not included in Al Nassr's squad for Friday's Saudi Professional League match against Al Ta'ee as he remained suspended by England's Football Association (FA) for knocking a phone out of a fan's hand after Manchester United's defeat at Everton in April.

The match between Al Nassr and Al Ta'ee was originally scheduled for Thursday at Mrsool Park but was postponed by 24 hours due to heavy rain and weather conditions impacting the stadium's electricity.

The match itself went ahead as planned for Nassr as they emerged victorious with a 2-0 result. After the game, manager Rudi Garcia tweeted: "Under a deluge and on a field at the limit of practicability, my players were admirable. They adapted intelligently and won logically, increasing the gap with our opponents at the top of the league."

The 37-year-old is in Saudi after agreeing to a two-and-a-half-year contract with Al Nassr. Ronaldo had ended his contract with Manchester United in November by mutual consent after their relation between the club and player soured.

According to reports, Ronaldo's deal, including commercial and sponsorship tie-ins, could be worth more than $200 million per year.

Meanwhile, AFP reported that Ronaldo still needs to serve his two-match ban after he is registered. Al Nassr have not yet registered Ronaldo because the Saudi club have exceeded their quota for foreign players.

Cristiano Ronaldo smiles at his official unveiling by Al Nassr football club at Mrsool Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. AP

New Al Nassr signing Cristiano Ronaldo during his unveiling at Mrsool Park. Reuters

New Al Nassr signing Cristiano Ronaldo waves to the fans at Mrsool Park during his unveiling. Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo waves to fans. Reuters

New Al Nassr signing Cristiano Ronaldo walks out on to the Mrsool Park pitch. Reuters

Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo arrives at Mrsool Park Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for his unveiling as an Al Nassr player on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo speaks during a press conference for his official unveiling at Al Nassr. AP

Cristiano Ronaldo with Al Nassr club president Musalli Al Muammar at the press conference at Mrsool Park Stadium. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo attends a press conference during his official unveiling. Getty

Al Nassr coach Rudi Garcia unveils new signing Cristiano Ronaldo. Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo at Mrsool Park Stadium. Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo smiles during his official unveiling. AP

Saudi club Al Nassr's new signing Cristiano Ronaldo during his unveiling at Mrsool Park, Riyadh. Reuters

Al Nassr's new signing Cristiano Ronaldo with club president Musalli Al Muammar. Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo during his unveiling as an Al Nassr player after his record deal with the Saudi club, which is said to be worth $200m a year. Reuters

President of Al Nassr football club Musalli Al Muammar, centre, arrives at the Mrsool Park Stadium in Riyadh on Tuesday. AFP

A man sells Cristiano Ronaldo flags and scarves ahead of his unveiling as an Al Nassr player on Tuesday. Reuters

Vendors sell flags with Cristiano Ronaldo's number seven ahead of his official unveiling as a new Al Nassr palyer in Riyadh. AP

A vehicle drives past a billboard welcoming Saudi football club Al Nassr's new signing - Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo - in Riyadh. AFP

A billboard welcoming Cristiano Ronaldo in Riyadh. AFP

Al Nassr club's new signing Cristiano Ronaldo after his arrival in Riyadh late on Monday night. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo and partner Georgina Rodriguez after their arrival in Riyadh. AFP