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Cristiano Ronaldo is “100% sure” that he will not return to any European club in the future, with the star attacker claiming that the Saudi Pro League is better than Major League Soccer (MLS).
Global superstar Ronaldo joined Riyadh-based side Al Nassr on a contract until June 2025 after his exit from Manchester United in December 2022, and since then, several world-class stars have followed him to Saudi Arabia.
Joining the Manchester United and Real Madrid legend in the nation are the likes of Karim Benzema, Roberto Firmino, N’Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy, Ruben Neves, Jota, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marcelo Brozovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
And it certainly won’t stop there, with Liverpool midfield duo Jordan Henderson and Fabinho among the latest players to be linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League.
Ronaldo key to Saudi revolution
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The situation has dominated the summer transfer window headlines, and Los Blancos hero Ronaldo believes he is the man to have started it all.
“My decision to join Saudi clubs was 100% crucial to bring in new top players,” said Ronaldo, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano. “It’s a fact. When I joined Juventus, Serie A was dead and then after I signed… it was revived. Wherever Cristiano goes he generates higher interest.
“They criticised me for coming to the Saudi League, but what happened now? I opened the way… and now all the players are coming here.”
Al Nassr icon staying put
Ronaldo has also hit back at the critics of the league, using the examples of former Celtic winger Jota and ex-Wolves star Ruben Neves as players who are still young who are making the move to Saudi Arabia.
Many people have been noting how the league is only attracting older players who want one final mega payday.
But former Manchester United icon Ronaldo believes this is not the case, with the attacker committing his future to the Saudi Pro League amid this scenario.
“I won’t return to European football, the door is completely closed,” added Ronaldo. “I’m 38 years old, also European football has lost a lot of quality… only valid one is Premier League, they’re way ahead of all the other leagues.
“In one year, more and more top players will come to Saudi. In a year Saudi league will overtake the Turkish league and Dutch league.
“Players who arrived aren’t like what the president of the European Union said. Jota and Ruben Neves are young players.”
His comments do not bode well given the recent turn of events at Al Nassr, who recently lost 5-0 to La Liga side Celta Viga in a friendly encounter.
Ronaldo fires shot at Messi
Of course Ronaldo couldn’t leave out a jibe at fellow superstar Lionel Messi, who has made the switch from PSG to MLS club Inter Miami this summer.
The Argentine was linked with a move to Saudi to follow in Ronaldo’s footsteps, but chose to go in his own direction to join the American outfit until 2025.
The 2022 World Cup winner has been joined at Inter Miami by his former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets, with both on the receiving end of Ronaldo’s cheeky dig, with the Al Nassr star noting: “Saudi league is better than MLS.”
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