Cristiano Ronaldo mentioned Friday that the big-spending Saudi Professional League is already higher and extra aggressive than France’s prime division Ligue 1.
Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr after leaving Manchester United simply over a 12 months in the past, was talking on the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai after being honoured because the Finest Goalscorer and Followers’ Favorite Participant of the Yr.
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Requested the place the extent of the Saudi prime tier is, Ronaldo responded on stage: “To be trustworthy I feel the Saudi League is just not worse than French league, for my part.
“In [the] French league I feel you’ve got two, three groups with an excellent degree. In Saudi now I feel it is extra aggressive. They’ll say no matter they need, it is simply my opinion and I performed there one 12 months so I do know what I am speaking about.
“However I feel proper now we’re higher than [the] French league, we nonetheless enhance.”
The Saudi recreation bought a large inflow of money after the nation’s Public Funding Fund (PIF) took management of the league’s 4 greatest golf equipment final 12 months. Since Ronaldo moved to Al Nassr, a number of different massive names have joined him in Saudi Arabia, together with ex-Actual Madrid striker Karim Benzema and Brazilian star Neymar.
Nonetheless, this week England midfielder Jordan Henderson terminated his contract with Al Ettifaq after simply six months as a way to transfer again to Europe with Ajax, whereas ESPN reported that Benzema is sad at Al Ittihad and contemplating a transfer away within the January switch window.
Ronaldo, 38, has loved extra success, scoring 54 objectives for Al Nassr and Portugal in 2023 to complete the 12 months because the world’s prime male goalscorer.
The tally meant he completed above Manchester Metropolis’s treble-winner Erling Haaland, who took residence the award on Friday for Finest Males’s Participant. Spain’s World Cup winner Aitana Bonmatà took residence the Finest Ladies’s Participant Award.
“I used to be the most effective goalscorer this season, think about beating younger animals like Haaland. I am proud. And I will be 39 quickly!” Ronaldo mentioned.
“I like when individuals doubt me after which I am profitable. I do not get affected by the criticism.”
The previous Actual Madrid and Juventus ahead was additionally requested about his future and when he would possibly take into account retirement.
“In the mean time after I end I do not know to be trustworthy,” he mentioned. “In fact it will likely be quickly. By quickly I imply 10 years extra. I am joking! I do not know, let’s examine.”