Cristiano Ronaldo watches new side Al-Nassr ease to 2-0 win

Like riding a bike! Cristiano Ronaldo cheers for his new side Al-Nassr while working out on an EXERCISE BIKE in team’s changing rooms having watched the first half from the stands, after he was unable to make his debut due to a two-match ban

• Cristiano Ronaldo looked on as Al-Nassr defeated Al-Ta’ee 2-0 on Friday evening
• The veteran Portuguese forward watched the game from the Mrsool Park stands
• Ronaldo did not make his debut due to a two-match ban from his time in England
• He was forced to comply with the sanction for smashing a young fan’s phone

Cristiano Ronaldo was in a VIP box as Al-Nassr won 2-0 in their first match since his signing – but was missing from his seat for the entire second half as he watched the game while on an exercise bike in the changing rooms.

The Portuguese veteran, 37, moved to the Saudi Arabian side on a free transfer in late December after his Manchester United contract was ripped up following a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan.

Ronaldo, who was unable to make his debut on Friday as Al-Nassr eased past Al-Ta’ee, watched as his new team-mates secured all three points at the King Saud University Stadium to move four points clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League table.

Cristiano Ronaldo watched the second half of Al-Nassr’s 2-0 win over Al-Ta’ee while riding an exercise bike in the changing rooms

Ronaldo (left) watched on from the stands in the first half as Al-Nassr beat Al-Ta’ee 2-0

The Portuguese forward, 37, who joined the Saudi Arabian side in a mega-money deal in December, looked on as his team-mates took all three points

Social media video from Al-Nassr’s English-speaking Twitter account showed the second goal they scored, with former Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina playing a long kick up to Brazilian forward Talisca, who finished with aplomb to seal the win.

Footage from Al-Nassr’s Instagram page showed Ronaldo riding on an exercise bike while applauding his new strike partner Talisca for scoring the Saudi side’s second and final goal.

Ronaldo could not make his highly-anticipated debut in Riyadh because he was forced to comply with a two-match FA ban for smashing a young Everton fan’s phone while at United.

So instead, the forward watched with friend Ricky Regufe. He had arrived at Mrsool Park with his team-mates in a tracksuit and negotiated the ankle-deep puddles as entered the stadium 90 minutes before the scheduled kick-off. 

Video from Al-Nassr’s Twitter account showed Talisca scoring their second at Mrsool Park

What could have been his possible debut on Thursday was postponed as heavy rain hit Riyadh

The torrential rain caused electrical issues at Al-Nassr’s ground and forced the postponement

His image, showing him wearing his new club shirt, and both his fists raised, showing off his biceps, was given pride of place next to a giant screen and opposite the executive box for all to see. 

But after calling Saudi Arabia ‘South Africa’ in his arrival press conference, the Portuguese committed a second faux pas on Friday evening.

As his adopted country’s national anthem played and the teams lined up, the banned striker was chatting to a man in the VIP box. He then sat down as the anthem played and was quickly nudged to get back on his feet. 

Heavy rain continued on Friday but groundskeepers worked with squeegees and pitchforks to try and clear the water and make the surface playable 

Despite the torrential rain, Al-Nassr’s clash with Al Ta’ee at Mrsool Park went ahead on Friday

He then stood with other dignitaries for the last few seconds as the anthem played out. The pitch resembled a quagmire in the driving rain and the superstar striker would not have been happy playing in torrid conditions as sliding tackles flew and the ball stuck repeatedly in the mud.

Despite claims that the 28,000 seater stadium had sold out, Mrsool Park was half empty with swathes of empty yellow seats. 

A club source said this was possibly because news of Ronaldo being banned, as first reported by Sportsmail, had reached fans as well as the driving rain and cold temperatures.

Ronaldo was joined by his personal manager Ricardo Regufe (right), who negotiated the £175million-a-year deal that took the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to Al-Nassr

The spectators sang their new hero’s name when his image appeared on the stadium screens and he waved back at them from behind a glass screen.

He was joined in the stands by his personal manager Ricardo Regufe, who reportedly negotiated his transfer to Al-Nassr. 

According to Portuguese news outlet Publico, Regufe has replaced Ronaldo’s long-serving agent Jorge Mendes as the former striker’s most trusted confidante.  

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