Cristiano Ronaldo rejects big money Saudi tourist board offer
The Portuguese striker has reportedly rejected the lucrative offer from the Saudi tourist board as the Gulf nation looks to bolster tourism in the country.
Juventus and Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly rejected a big money offer from the Saudi Arabia tourist board to head up a new promotional campaign to help boost tourism in the Gulf nation. The UK based Telegraph report that the deal is believed to be worth approximately six million euro per year and has also been offered to FC Barcelona striker Lionel Messi.
The 'Visit Saudi' campaign is set to be launched next month with the country seeking to use sportsmen and major sporting events to portray a positive image of the nation which has come under fire from organisations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International for human rights abuses.
From dune bashing in the fabled red sands of Al Nafud Desert to admiring 10,000-year-old rock art, the Hail region offers travelers a unique blend of history, culture and adventure. See why this northern region is a popular vacation destination: https://t.co/QjN5TjHZ2M pic.twitter.com/stM9CJcqU3
— Visit Saudi (@VisitSaudiNow) January 21, 2021
In 2019, the Persian Gulf state hosted the Spanish Super Cup Final Four competition (featuring the likes of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona) after the RFEF penned a deal with the Saudi monarchy with the three-year term worth 120 million euro. In the same year Anthony Joshua staged his world title bout against Andy Ruiz at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Al-Turaif, in Riyadh and recently Formula One came under fire for agreeing to stage the penultimate race of the 2021 calendar in Jeddah.
Representatives acting for the commercial interests of Cristiano Ronaldo declined to comment to Telegraph Sport with Messi's agents refusing to comment on the player's ventures relating to the Saudi tourist board initiative.