‘Obnoxiously funny’ – Al Nassr make statement to address wild Jhon Duran rumour
Al Nassr have shut down a rumour about Jhon Duran’s travel plans in no uncertain terms. Duran joined the Saudi Pro League side for £71million in the closing days of the winter transfer window, leaving Aston Villa after an impressive start to the season. Al Nassr have jumped to their new striker’s defenceGetty Given his age, just 21, and pedigree as potentially one of the best strikers in the game, Duran’s step away from the European elite was widely panned, and he then came in for even more criticism. A story began to circulate that due to Saudi laws about unmarried couples, Duran and his girlfriend would be living over the border in Bahrain to avoid any issues. Media reported that this would be a 600-mile commute, but now Al Nassr have responded to deny the viral story. Reposting the story on social media, they wrote: “We all heard about what’s called “fake news”, but this is obnoxiously funny fake news! We are happy that our club matters this much. “Jhon loves Riyadh and his house is near the club and the stadium. He is our new family member.” Their proclamation seems to have plenty of backing too, given that Duran’s unmarried new teammate Cristiano Ronaldo already lives in Riyadh with his partner Georgina Rodriguez. Duran is reportedly earning five times the salary he was on at Villa, but has since denied that the move was about money. Speaking after his arrival in the Middle East, he said: “I’m happy with this step. Many people speculate, but only my family, my agent, and I know the reasons behind my decision. Money doesn’t motivate me. “It’s not a step back, the league is competitive with many stars. People who think otherwise should watch me play on the field.” That invitation may be accepted by talkSPORT host Simon Jordan, who hit the headlines for his views on Duran’s move. GettyDuran made his debut for Al Nassr in the Asian Champions League but couldn’t find the scoresheet[/caption] Former Crystal Palace owner Jordan said that he has ‘very little respect’ for the young talent moving to Saudi giants Al Nassr. “I have very little respect for this player going to Saudi, I don’t. At 21 years of age, this is not a super competitive league” Jordan said. “This is not a world stage league, and I don’t know why a 21 year old will be going there besides one thing and one thing only, money.” “You don’t see many paupers at top-level football. You don’t go into football thinking that ultimately you’re gonna be anything other than successful, and if you go to Saudi, it’s because you’re going for one reason and one reason only, for money. “At 21 years of age, I think that’s a shame because he’s not going into competitive football. “I hope that he reaps the whirlwind for that in football terms. He won’t reap the whirlwind for it economically. Duran has shared his excitement at partnering RonaldoGetty “How do you develop in the substandard league? How do you get better? The way you get better in most sports is by playing with people that are better than you, because it makes you drag your standard up. “I think personally it’s disappointing for a talented 21-year-old player that clearly people think highly of talent wise. “There might be a question about temperament and attitude and outlook and entitlement, but you’ve got a manager that’s rotating him, playing him. “When he gets an opportunity, he takes it, he came out the side because he’s injured, he’ll get another opportunity again and he’s going to Saudi for money. “This player’s all about money and not about the game. This player should be playing in elite football and developing his career if he wants to be an elite footballer. “If he wants to be an elite bank balance, fair play to him!” Duran however, has been sharing his excitement at being able to learn from one of football’s greatest. Asked about teaming up with Ronaldo, he added: “I’m thrilled to learn from the best football star in the world. I’m looking forward to growing alongside him.” Ronaldo was the first player to trigger the SPL’s spending spree, moving to Saudi after terminating his Manchester United contract at the end of 2022. He joined on a free and the following summer the league ramped things up, spending £728m on new recruits, a figure only bettered by the Premier League worldwide. Reigning Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema joined Al Ittihad from Real Madrid, and later Neymar became the league’s biggest transfer when he swapped Paris Saint-Germain for Al Hilal in a £77.6m move, with Duran slotting in behind as the league’s second-most expensive player. Despite that move, he barely played before leaving for his first club Santos in January, but Al Hilal still dominated the Pro League thanks to former Fulham man Aleksandar Mitrovic. Ronaldo may be a little miffed that his Nassr side haven’t been able to compete for top honours, but tha
Al Nassr have shut down a rumour about Jhon Duran’s travel plans in no uncertain terms.
Duran joined the Saudi Pro League side for £71million in the closing days of the winter transfer window, leaving Aston Villa after an impressive start to the season.
Given his age, just 21, and pedigree as potentially one of the best strikers in the game, Duran’s step away from the European elite was widely panned, and he then came in for even more criticism.
A story began to circulate that due to Saudi laws about unmarried couples, Duran and his girlfriend would be living over the border in Bahrain to avoid any issues.
Media reported that this would be a 600-mile commute, but now Al Nassr have responded to deny the viral story.
Reposting the story on social media, they wrote: “We all heard about what’s called “fake news”, but this is obnoxiously funny fake news! We are happy that our club matters this much.
“Jhon loves Riyadh and his house is near the club and the stadium. He is our new family member.”
Their proclamation seems to have plenty of backing too, given that Duran’s unmarried new teammate Cristiano Ronaldo already lives in Riyadh with his partner Georgina Rodriguez.
Duran is reportedly earning five times the salary he was on at Villa, but has since denied that the move was about money.
Speaking after his arrival in the Middle East, he said: “I’m happy with this step. Many people speculate, but only my family, my agent, and I know the reasons behind my decision. Money doesn’t motivate me.
“It’s not a step back, the league is competitive with many stars. People who think otherwise should watch me play on the field.”
That invitation may be accepted by talkSPORT host Simon Jordan, who hit the headlines for his views on Duran’s move.
Former Crystal Palace owner Jordan said that he has ‘very little respect’ for the young talent moving to Saudi giants Al Nassr.
“I have very little respect for this player going to Saudi, I don’t. At 21 years of age, this is not a super competitive league” Jordan said.
“This is not a world stage league, and I don’t know why a 21 year old will be going there besides one thing and one thing only, money.”
“You don’t see many paupers at top-level football. You don’t go into football thinking that ultimately you’re gonna be anything other than successful, and if you go to Saudi, it’s because you’re going for one reason and one reason only, for money.
“At 21 years of age, I think that’s a shame because he’s not going into competitive football.
“I hope that he reaps the whirlwind for that in football terms. He won’t reap the whirlwind for it economically.
“How do you develop in the substandard league? How do you get better? The way you get better in most sports is by playing with people that are better than you, because it makes you drag your standard up.
“I think personally it’s disappointing for a talented 21-year-old player that clearly people think highly of talent wise.
“There might be a question about temperament and attitude and outlook and entitlement, but you’ve got a manager that’s rotating him, playing him.
“When he gets an opportunity, he takes it, he came out the side because he’s injured, he’ll get another opportunity again and he’s going to Saudi for money.
“This player’s all about money and not about the game. This player should be playing in elite football and developing his career if he wants to be an elite footballer.
“If he wants to be an elite bank balance, fair play to him!”
Duran however, has been sharing his excitement at being able to learn from one of football’s greatest.
Asked about teaming up with Ronaldo, he added: “I’m thrilled to learn from the best football star in the world. I’m looking forward to growing alongside him.”
Ronaldo was the first player to trigger the SPL’s spending spree, moving to Saudi after terminating his Manchester United contract at the end of 2022.
He joined on a free and the following summer the league ramped things up, spending £728m on new recruits, a figure only bettered by the Premier League worldwide.
Reigning Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema joined Al Ittihad from Real Madrid, and later Neymar became the league’s biggest transfer when he swapped Paris Saint-Germain for Al Hilal in a £77.6m move, with Duran slotting in behind as the league’s second-most expensive player.
Despite that move, he barely played before leaving for his first club Santos in January, but Al Hilal still dominated the Pro League thanks to former Fulham man Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Ronaldo may be a little miffed that his Nassr side haven’t been able to compete for top honours, but that could all change thanks to the arrival of Duran, whose side are now five points off league leaders Al Ittihad.
