"The Saudi league better than MLS": Ronaldo

If there was one thing to be said about Ronaldo, it's that he does not mince his words. The Portuguese megastar, crown jewel of the Saudi Pro-League, spoke after the 5-0 thrashing of Al-Nassr by La Liga's Celta Vigo.

As his league is making almost unprecedented levels of investment, spending huge amounts of money to attract talent from Europe's biggest leagues, the former Manchester United forward believes he is the reason the league is gaining more interest globally.

"I opened the door to the Saudi league, and now all the players are coming here. They criticised me for coming to Saudi Arabia, but what's happened now? I paved the way and now all the players are coming", he reflected.

“In one year, more top players will come to Saudi Arabia", declared CR7, before adding a bold statement to match: "The Saudi league is better than MLS”. 

"Players who arrived aren't like what the president of the European Union said. Jota and Neves are young players", continued the star. Although Ronaldo says 'the president of the European Union', he is referring to comments made by UEFA chief, Alexander Ceferin, who criticised the Saudi leagues policy of signing players in an interview with 'NOS'.

"My decision to come to Saudi Arabia was 100% crucial to bring in new top players. It's a fact. I knew this was going to happen because in the Italian league, when I went there, it was also dead and then rejuvenated. Where Cristiano goes, it generates greater interest and I knew it was going to be like that. I'm sure that next season more stars will go there [to Saudi Arabia]."

The striker is so enamored by the Gulf league that he clearly sees that he will never return to Europe's big leagues: "I'm 100 per cent sure I won't return to any European club... the door is completely closed", he declared.

"European football has lost lot of quality. The only league that for me has a lot of quality and is at a higher level than all the others is the Premier League. The Spanish league does not have that great quality. The Portuguese league is a good league, but it is not a top, top league. The German league I think has also lost a lot. I'm sure I won't play in Europe again. I want to play in Saudi Arabia", he finished.

 

July 17, 2023