On Sunday, Alex Telles left Manchester United for a get-together with Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.
Telles, who left the Premier League for the allure of the lucrative Saudi Pro League, is the most recent player from a prominent European team to relocate to the Gulf state.
The Brazilian left-back played 50 times for United during his three years at Old Trafford before spending the previous season on loan at Sevilla.
The 30-year-old Telles will reconnect with Ronaldo at Al Nassr after the Portuguese striker’s contentious departure from United last year.
“Alex Telles has completed a permanent move from Manchester United to Al-Nassr,” a United statement said.
“The 30-year-old full-back has joined the Saudi Premier League outfit following 50 first-team appearances for the Reds.
“We’d like to thank Alex for his contributions to the club over the last three years and would like to wish him all the best for the future.”
Telles struggled to maintain a consistent position in the United after moving there in a 13.6 million dollar transfer in 2020 from Porto.
But he made an impression at Sevilla, where he spent last season and helped the Spanish team win the Europa League.
Telles’ transfer to Al Nassr coincides with a startling exodus of star athletes to Saudi Arabia.
Karim Benzema, a French striker, left Real Madrid to join Al-Ittihad, and numerous other Premier League talents have also moved to the Gulf state.
N’Golo Kante of Chelsea joined fellow countryman Benzema at Al-Ittihad, while Kalidou Koulibaly left for Al-Hilal, a squad that also acquired Ruben Neves from Wolves.
Another Chelsea player, Edouard Mendy, made the move to Saudi Arabia from west London, joining Al Ahli, where he will be joined by Roberto Firmino of Liverpool.
Steven Gerrard, a former manager of Aston Villa, accepted a job offer from Al Ettifaq, a team that is eager to sign Jordan Henderson, the captain of Liverpool, as soon as possible.
