Jhon Duran's new club Al Nassr have released a public statement after claims about a decision he and his partner were poised to make following a £64.5 million transfer from Aston Villa.
Duran has linked up with five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo, who has been in the Saudi Pro League for just over two years now after making a stunning free transfer to Al Nassr at the end of December 2022 following his Manchester United contract being terminated by mutual consent.
Duran, who will earn a whopping £16.7 million per year with his new club, made his debut in a 4-0 AFC Champions League win over Al Wasl on Monday.
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However, it was reported earlier this week that Duran is planning to make a 600-mile commute to and from training.
The reported reason was that Duran and his other half, model and doctor Angela Capella, intended on living nearby Bahrain instead of Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson settled in the country during their time with Al Ettifaq but the journey was a smooth one as the club's training ground is just one hour away by car.
However, Riyadh is more than 300 miles away and a flight from Bahrain International Airport will take Duran one hour and 20 minutes.
It was claimed that Duran was set to make the decision due to concerns about whether he and his girlfriend would be able to live with one another where non-married couples are discouraged from living together without having tied the knot.
Private landlords are said to have a tendency to ask for proof of marriage beforehand when renting out properties - though Ronaldo and long-term partner Georgina Rodriguez were granted a special reprieve and currently live in a luxury compound in an unknown location.
Al Nassr respond to Duran claims
On Wednesday evening, Al Nassr took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to set the record straight on the reports regarding Duran's living situation.
The club replied to a post from a popular account and branded the claims 'fake news', stressing that the former Chicago Fire striker is living close to the King Saud University Stadium and is happy with his new environment.
The club said: "We all heard about what’s called 'fake news', but this Is an 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."
However, upon Rodriguez' arrival in Saudi, it was reported that as a women, she still had to adhere to a number of other strict rules which likely apply to Duran's significant other.
According to el Periodico, via the Express, Rodriguez was informed she must dress with dress with "modesty and decorum" - with tight outfits with necklines and transparencies not allowed.
She is also prohibited from importing or consuming alcohol or any pork products, as well as being banned from eating, drinking or smoking in public places during Ramadan.
When the religious month of Ramadan comes around in March and April, the Argentine is banned from eating, drink or smoking in public places.
Lastly, Rodriguez is also not allowed to visiting select monuments and sacred places and must ask for permission to attend holy pilgrimages like Mecca and Medina.
Duran's girlfriend, who does not feature on his social media profiles all that much, is a beauty pageant queen who is also a doctor specialising in epidemiology.
Topics: Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Pro League
Josh Lawless