“The world is changing”
Ronaldo surprises with daring theses about Saudi football
January 19, 2024, 7:09 p.m
Cristiano Ronaldo apparently feels extremely comfortable in Saudi Arabia and is increasingly becoming the top ambassador for football there. At an awards ceremony, the Portuguese superstar surprises with a wild comparison and daring predictions.
Surprising assessment: Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo now considers the league in his adopted home of Saudi Arabia to be more powerful than the French Ligue 1. “I’ve been playing there for a year and I know what I’m talking about. I think at the moment we’re better than the French league,” said the 38-year-old professional from Al-Nassr at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai.
In France’s top league with series champions Paris Saint-Germain there are only “two or three teams at a good level,” said the Portuguese Ronaldo, “there is more competition in Saudi Arabia.” Step by step, the Saudi Pro League will develop into one of the three or four best leagues in the world, predicted the former star striker of the top European clubs Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus Turin.
Last summer, Saudi clubs started a transfer offensive with a lot of money and lured some well-known players and coaches to the country. However, some professionals such as the Englishman Jordan Henderson (now Ajax Amsterdam) have already left Saudi Arabia.
Ronaldo does not regret his own move a year ago to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has been criticized due to the human rights situation. “I think it was a good move. I feel so happy,” said Ronaldo. In terms of the number of goals, he beat “young lions” like Erling Haaland from Champions League winners Manchester City, “I’m proud of that.”
He also wanted to help with possible change in Saudi Arabia, as Ronaldo said on the podium. “I’m capable of doing that. I’m not arrogant, but I said a year ago: things change, the world changes, football changes, the rules change, everything changes. “The question When asked about the possible end of his career, Ronaldo answered with a joke: “It will be soon, and by soon I mean in 10 years.” Then he added seriously: “I don’t know.”