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Like Cosmos signing Pele, says Ronaldo's new coach
Cristiano Ronaldo's new club coach Rudi Garcia on Sunday compared the Portuguese star's arrival at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia to Pele's signing with the New York Cosmos in 1975.
"It's a bit like Pele's arrival to the North American Soccer League. Especially for the development of football, sport and culture in Saudi Arabia."
At 34, Pele came out of partial retirement to spark an explosion of interest in football in the United States. Ronaldo, at 37, is coming out of a bitter divorce with Manchester United.
"It's great. Great for us, for Al-Nassr. Great for Saudi Arabia. Cristiano Ronaldo is more than a player. He is one of the best players in the world."
Garcia was speaking on a visit the Riyadh bivouac of the Dakar Rally which is being held in Saudi Arabia and, like Ronaldo's high-priced signing, has drawn criticism that the country's leaders are "sportswashing", or trying to deflect attention from the kingdom's human rights record.