Cristiano Ronaldo has declared that the Saudi Arabian Professional League is better than the US, Major League Soccer, MLS, a day after Lionel Messi was unveiled by US side Inter Miami on Sunday, 16th July, 2023.
Ronaldo made the statement while speaking to the press after a pre-season game between his club, Al-Nassr FC and Spanish League side Celta Vigo, in Portugal on Monday, 17th July, 2023.
The Portuguese forwards’ statement is also coming after Messi’s unveiling at Inter Miami surpassed his unveiling at Al Nassr as the most-watched football presentation worldwide.
The Argentine was presented with his new club shirt on Sunday, 16th July, 2023, during the unveiling ceremony after he joined the Florida-based team in a £45 million-per-year deal.
In his chat with the media, Ronaldo credited himself for paving the way for football big names to join the Saudi league while taking a swipe at the European League for lacking quality players.
‘I’m 100 per cent 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.
In one year top many players will come here, ‘I won’t return to European football, the door is completely closed,’
Cristiano Ronaldo
Since Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia, several top players such as Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Roberto Firmino and Steven Gerrard have joined the Saudi league.
While Messi followed in the footsteps of the likes of David Beckham by opting for the MLS.
Story: Ihuoma Ukeje