Cristiano Ronaldo clearly doesn’t agree with critics of of the Saudi Pro League.
The Portuguese superstar scored a hat-trick for Al-Nassr in their 4-0 friendly victory over Rio Ave on Thursday night and had some words about the current state of football in Saudi Arabia.
Ronaldo was responding to a question about the arrival of Portugal team-mate Joao Felix, who joined Al-Nassr from Chelsea in a £26m deal just over a week ago.
Felix had the opportunity to rejoin his former club Benfica and it has been claimed that Ronaldo was crucial in convincing him to join Al-Nassr instead, with some questioning if it was the right move.
‘Stealing is bad form,’ Ronaldo replied. ‘No one has ever stolen anything from Benfica.
‘Everyone knows Joao; he’s very talented. I think he’ll help us a lot in the Saudi league, which is very competitive.
Cristiano Ronaldo has aimed a thinly veiled dig at the critics of of the Saudi Pro League
Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in Al-Nassr’s friendly victory over Rio Ave on Thursday night
‘You don’t know him; you’re not there, you don’t show up, but we saw him at the Club World Cup.
‘I think it was a better option for Felix than playing in the Portuguese league; just look at the number of stars there are in Saudi Arabia.
‘Regardless of not playing in the Champions League, it was a very wise decision on his part.
‘Calling him to convince him? I don’t do that, I don’t pick up the phone. It’s not my job. You [journalists] said that, but my job is to train and play.’
Ronaldo has scored four goals in three games in pre-season and is looking to win the Saudi Pro League for the first time since his move from Man United in 2022.
