The Foreign Ministry is considering recruiting Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo to promote the possibility of normalization with Saudi Arabia, public broadcaster Kan reported on Tuesday.
According to the report, Israel is hoping to benefit from the player's recent transfer to Saudi club Al Nassr. The Jewish state believes that through his status and millions of followers on social media, Ronaldo can contribute to the rapprochement between Jerusalem and Riyadh.
The two countries do not have official diplomatic relations. For the moment, no decision has been made by the Israeli officials, as this possibility is still being examined by the Foreign Ministry.
Last December, i24NEWS revealed that Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir told the American Jewish Committee that "normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel is only a matter of time."
At the same time, former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, had indicated that Saudi Arabia was likely to adhere to the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel during 2023.
The Portuguese marksmen has signed for the Saudi club on a sensational €200-million-a-year contract back in December 2022 after his tumultuous exit from English Premier League side Manchester United a month prior.
"I am eager to experience a new football league in a different country. Al Nassr Club's vision is very inspiring," the club quoted Ronaldo as saying in a tweet announcing his signing.
"This is more than history in the making. This is a signing that will not only inspire our club to achieve even greater success but inspire our league, our nation and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves," the club's president Musli Al Muammar said.