RIYADH: According to Cristiano Ronaldo, there is no chance of him playing club football in Europe again. He believes that the Saudi Arabian league is superior to Major League Soccer (MLS), which his long-time rival Lionel Messi has chosen.
Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in December on a 2-1/2-year contract after leaving Manchester United. He expressed that he has opened doors for other top players to sign with Saudi teams and expects more players to make the move to the kingdom.
The 38-year-old captain of the Portugal national team made these comments following Al Nassr’s 5-0 loss to Celta Vigo in a pre-season friendly match on Monday. Ronaldo expressed his view that most European leagues are in decline.
According to ESPN, Cristiano Ronaldo stated, “I’m 100% sure I won’t return to any European club. I’m 38 years old.” He expressed his belief that European football has declined in quality. He believes that the English Premier League is an exception, which is still performing well.
Ronaldo also mentioned that the Saudi Arabian league is superior to Major League Soccer (MLS). He highlighted the growing trend of top players moving to Saudi Arabia. He stated that more players will likely make the move in the future. Ronaldo’s rival Lionel Messi was also linked with a move to Saudi Arabia before joining MLS side Inter Miami.
The Saudi league has attracted several high-profile players, including Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema from Real Madrid and N’Golo Kante from Chelsea, both of whom joined champions Al-Ittihad.
