Former Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran experienced a dream debut for Al-Nassr, scoring twice alongside football legend Cristiano Ronaldo in a convincing 3-0 victory over Al-Feiha at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on Friday night.
The Colombian forward, who completed a staggering €77 million (£65m/$80m) move from Aston Villa, couldn't contain his excitement about sharing the pitch with Ronaldo, who also marked the occasion by scoring his first goal since turning 40.
"It feels like I'm playing FIFA Career Mode. I'm celebrating goals with Cristiano Ronaldo," Duran expressed, still visibly amazed by the surreal experience of playing alongside one of football's greatest players.
The transfer to the Saudi Arabian club has proven to be transformative for Duran, not just in terms of his career trajectory but also financially. The young striker has secured an impressive contract worth £17 million ($21 million) annually, a remarkable increase from his previous £75,000-per-week earnings at Aston Villa. To put this astronomical figure into perspective, Duran's new salary breaks down to approximately £1,900 per hour or £31 per minute, highlighting the substantial financial power of Saudi Arabian football in attracting global talent.
The Riyadh-based club will look to build on this impressive performance when they face Al-Ahli in their next Saudi Pro League fixture on Thursday, February 13. With Duran's explosive debut and Ronaldo's continued scoring form, Al-Nassr appears poised for success in their upcoming matches.
