Cristiano Ronaldo and partner Georgina Rodriguez will be able to live together in Saudi Arabia, despite the country’s laws forbidding unmarried couples from doing so.
The 37-year-old made his first appearance in an Al-Nassr shirt since his big money move in Tuesday’s unveiling, which brought out a big crowd.
AFP
He was joined on the pitch at Mrsool Park with his long-term partner Georgina and their children.
Ronaldo has never been married, which seemed likely to pose a problem for him and Rodriguez with Saudi laws strictly prohibiting ‘cohabitation without a marriage contract’.
However, Saudi lawyers have told Spanish international news agency EFE that authorities will ‘turn a blind eye’ to the superstar couple living together.
An anonymous lawyer told EFE: “Although the laws of the kingdom still prohibit cohabitation without a marriage contract, the authorities have recently started to turn a blind eye and no longer prosecute anyone.
“Although these laws are used when there is a problem or a crime.”
Another lawyer added: “Nowadays Saudi authorities no longer interfere in this matter – for expatriates – even though the law prohibits cohabitation without marriage.”
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Despite the allowances, Rodriguez, who is the mother of two of Ronaldo’s children, will still need a visa to live in the Gulf nation as she doesn’t automatically receive citizenship through marriage.
The Argentine-Spanish model has been alongside Ronaldo for much of his recent career, and recently made headlines at the World Cup.
Rodriguez hit out at Portugal manager Fernando Santos for dropping her partner after a disappointing group stage campaign in Qatar, and posted a number of messages on her Instagram account.
She told her 44 million followers that Santos made the ‘wrong decision’ by benching the captain, and described him as the ‘best player in the world’.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, is waiting to find out whether he can get his career on track with a debut this week.
He is due to serve a two-game ban, which he picked up in England, but it’s been suggested Al Nassr will defy the suspension and play their new signing despite the risk of a fine or greater punishment.
Al Nassr were due to play against Al Ta’ee in a Saudi Pro League clash on Thursday but put the fixture back 24 hours “due to heavy rain and weather conditions impacting the stadium’s electricity”.
