Cristiano Ronaldo believes that the Saudi Pro League is currently better than the MLS, and predicts more top players to join the growing league soon.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been fierce rivals on the pitch for more than 15 years now. The pair duked it out during the El Clasico era of the 2010s when Messi played for Barcelona and Ronaldo for Real Madrid. Both of them pushed each other to reach their best on the pitch.
So, even after they left Europe, that rivalry still exists among them.
Cristiano Ronaldo claims Saudi League is better than MLS
After Lionel Messi made his move to Inter Miami official, it was expected that Ronaldo will be asked about the league. Ronaldo himself left Europe when he joined Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr in January.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the seven times Ballon d’Or winner said: “I won’t return to European football, the door is completely closed. I’m 38 years old, also European football has lost a lot of quality… the only valid one is Premier League, they’re way ahead of all the other leagues.”
🚨⛔️ Cristiano Ronaldo: "I won't return to European football, the door is completely closed".
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 17, 2023
"I'm 38 years old, also European football has lost lot of quality… only valid one is Premier League, they're way ahead of all the other leagues". pic.twitter.com/czxco9PzlM
He was then again asked whether the Major League Soccer where Messi now plays is better than the Saudi League. Ronaldo defended his league saying, “Saudi league is better than MLS.”
🚨Cristiano Ronaldo: "Saudi league is better than MLS".
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 17, 2023
"I'm 100% sure I won't return to any European club. I opened the way to Saudi league… and now all the players are coming here". 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/nvgESZnjeK
He also believes more players will be following him to the desert country soon.
“I’m 100% sure I won’t return to any European club. I opened the way to the Saudi league… and now all the players are coming here.”
Celta Vigo hands 5-0 humiliation to Al Nassr
Ronaldo’s comments, however, came right when his team Al Nassr was bashed humiliatingly. The Saudi side recently lost 5-0 to La Liga club Celta Vigo in a pre-season friendly game.
They did have a good first half, with no goals conceded. But in the second half, things went wrong when they received a red card. Down to 10 men, the team fell apart and they lost 5-0.
❗️ Al Nassr kicked off their pre-season tonight with a friendly against Celta Vigo.
— MessivsRonaldo.app (@mvsrapp) July 17, 2023
Ronaldo came off after 48 minutes with the scores at 0-0, before the Saudis fell to a 5-0 loss!
Next up: Benfica on Thursday pic.twitter.com/Uh3x9XQ0sh
Cristiano Ronaldo was in the first half, though he was substituted before the second half. The defeat shows that the Saudi side still has a lot to do before becoming a competitive side. This does mean that Ronaldo’s high valuation of the Saudi league is now facing trolls due to this humiliating defeat.
Which players are moving to Saudi Arabia?
But Saudi Arabia is looking to soon make their league a top one with some great signings. After Ronaldo, Al Ittihad signed French superstars Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante.
More players like Ruben Neves, Marcelo Brozovic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic have joined the growing league.
More players are continuously being linked to a Saudi club. Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku has been rumored to be offered a contract by Al Hilal. While Bayern’s Sadio Mane was contacted by Al Ahli. Paul Pogba refused he was leaving Juventus, but he may also join the Saudi deserts soon.
Riyad Mahrez, Sergio Ramos, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Aleksandar Mitrović, and many more will also contemplate a move to Saudi Arabia.
If the Saudis can complete all these signings, it is safe to say they would be building a very strong project for the future.
