Cristiano Ronaldo's bizarre start to life at Al-Nassr continued as it emerged his debut could be further delayed, with the Saudi Arabian club reportedly exceeding their quota for foreign players.
The Portuguese superstar's first game for the club had expected to take place today, but the match was put on hold after heavy rainfall saw the club's ground suffer electrical issues.
Al-Nassr officials expect the rescheduled match against against Al Ta'i to take place tomorrow at Mrsool Park, the 25,000-capacity venue.
Ronaldo's participation remains uncertain, due to the club being unable to register the star having exceeded their foreign player quota.
The 37-year-old is Al-Nassr's ninth import from overseas, with club sources telling AFP that negotiations are ongoing to sell a current squad member to meet the limit of eight set by the Saudi Pro League.
'Al Nassr has not registered him yet because there is no vacancy for a foreign player,' an unnamed Al Nassr official told AFP.
'A foreign player must leave to register Ronaldo, either by selling or by terminating the contract by mutual consent.'
Cameroon star Vincent Aboubakar, former Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina and ex-Brazil international Luiz Gustavo are among Al-Nassr’s legion of foreign stars.
The squad also includes former Argentina international Pity Martinez, Ivory Coast’s Ghislain Konan, Spain’s Alvaro Gonzalez, Brazilian midfielder Talisca and Uzbekistan’s Jaloliddin Masharipov.
Masharipov is reportedly the likeliest player to leave the club to make room for Ronaldo.
The inability to register Ronaldo and cancellation of today's fixture add to the embarrassment for Al-Nassr.
The Saudi Pro League side has splashed out upwards of £400million to secure Ronaldo services for the next two-and-a-half years, with the 37-year-old signing a reported £173million-a-year contract.
Ronaldo's anticipated debut had already been vetoed by FIFA following the English Football Association handing him a two match ban, which he has yet to serve, while he was a Manchester United player.
The star was given the ban in November for slapping a phone out of the hand of an Everton fan during a game last season.
Al-Nassr have not revealed whether it was going to adhere to the ban.
Ronaldo had also made a bizarre faux pas during his unveiling on Tuesday, when he described a move to South Africa, rather than Saudi Arabia.
Video footage released on social media shows Ronaldo saying: 'The football is different, so for me it's not the end of my career to come to South Africa. This is why I want to change, and to be honest I'm really not worried about what people say.'
Ronaldo had also claimed he had 'many opportunities' to join European and South American clubs before signing the mega-money deal, before declaring the 'contract is unique but I’m a unique player'.
His signing for Al-Nassr followed the termination of his Manchester United contract in November, after his controversial television interview with Piers Morgan.
Thaj
20
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RaghibMustafa
9
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