Cristiano Ronaldo has stated that he has no intention of returning to European club football and believes the Saudi Arabian league is better than Major League Soccer, where his great rival Lionel Messi chose to start the next chapter in his career.
Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in December on a two-and-a-half-year contract after leaving Manchester United, claimed he had cleared the path for other elite players to sign with Saudi clubs.
After Al Nassr’s 5-0 loss to Celta Vigo in a preseason friendly on Monday, the 38-year-old Portugal captain said that most European leagues were in decline.
“I’m 100% sure I won’t return to any European club. I’m 38-years-old,” ESPN quoted him as saying.
“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.”
Prior to completing a transfer to MLS club Inter Miami and signing a contract until 2025, Messi, a longtime rival of Ronaldo was also linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.
“The Saudi league is better than MLS,” Ronaldo said. He added, “Now all the players are coming here … In one year, more top players will come to Saudi Arabia.”