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Cristiano Ronaldo insists Pro League is better than Portuguese top flight after dig at Lionel Messi and MLS.
Cristiano Ronaldo has once more defended the Saudi Pro League, stating that it is more competitive than the top division in his country.
Ronaldo left Manchester United in January and signed a lucrative contract with Al-Nassr. Many prominent figures have accompanied the Portuguese hero to the Middle East, and many have come under fire for choosing to compete at a high level in Europe rather than following the money to Saudi Arabia despite the nation’s track record on human rights. However, Ronaldo maintains that the Saudi league is even superior to the Primeira Liga in his native Portugal and contends that all leagues and nations are subject to criticism.
“It’s normal to criticise, what league is not criticised? Where there aren’t problems and controversy? There are everywhere. Spain, Portugal,” he said at a press conference. “I already knew, I keep saying: everyone thought I was crazy, crazy isn’t so crazy… It’s already normal to play in the Saudi Arabian league.
“As an Al-Nassr player, I knew this was going to happen, it’s a privilege to change a country’s culture and football, to have great stars, it makes me proud. I was the pioneer and I feel proud of it. What I want most is to continue to evolve always, so that I can be at the top.”
He added: “I believe that the Arab League is better than the Portuguese one. It’s not just the controversy, there’s not so much fuss, the quality of the names is much better. I hope it can get better, I know it will be difficult. Possibly impossible. It turns out to be a circus what has been happening lately.”
The Saudi top division has been successful in recruiting players like Karim Benzema, Neymar, N’Golo Kante, Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Neves, Jordan Henderson, and Roberto Firmino, among many others, since Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr.
Lionel Messi was one well-known figure who chose to join Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer (MLS) over Saudi Arabia’s efforts.
Ronaldo, though, made a sneaky jab at the level of football played in the USA in July when he said, “The Saudi championship is much better than the USA.”
When Portugal plays Slovakia on September 8, which will be followed by a match against Luxembourg three days later, the seasoned forward might make his 201st appearance for Portugal.