New Delhi: Al Nassr‘s captain Cristiano Ronaldo said Saudi Pro League is better then Major League Soccer (MLS) and he has no plan to play at the United States or return to play for any team at Europe.
Celta Vigo defeat Al-Nassr by 5-0
The striker was quoted by ESPN after playing the first half of Al Nassr‘s 5-0 preseason loss to LaLiga side Celta Vigo in his native Portugal.
“The Saudi league is better than MLS,” the Portugal star said when asked about making a move to the U.S. like his former rival in Spain Lionel Messi, who was unveiled as an Inter Miami CF player on Sunday.
No plan to return Europe
When asked about his return to the European football, Ronaldo said, “I’m 100% sure I won’t return to any European club. I’m 38-years-old.”
“European football has lost a lot of quality. The only valid one and still doing good is the (English) Premier League. They’re way ahead of all the other leagues,” Ronaldo added.
🚨Cristiano Ronaldo: "Saudi league is better than MLS".
"I'm 100% sure I won't return to any European club. I opened the way to Saudi league… and now all the players are coming here". 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/nvgESZnjeK
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 17, 2023
Ronaldo on MLS
Ronaldo’s long time arch-rival Lionel Messi joined the MLS after Argentina won the FIFA World Cup last year. Before signing for Inter Miami, Messi was linked that he will also join Saudi Pro League, but star striker decided to go with MLS.
“The Saudi league is better than MLS,” Ronaldo said.
“Now all the players are coming here … In one year, more top players will come to Saudi Arabia.”
Cristiano Ronaldo was the first high-profile signing for the Saudi Pro League’s club Al-Nassr, after that the likes of Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema from Real Madrid and N’Golo Kante from Chelsea, who both joined champions Al-Ittihad.
