Cristiano Ronaldo insisted Friday, January 19, that the often derided Saudi Pro League was “more competitive” than French Ligue 1.
“To be honest, I think the Saudi championship isn’t worse than the French championship. I think it’s more competitive,” five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo told the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai.
Ronaldo was the first major star to move to Saudi Arabia when he penned a deal with Al-Nassr last January.
Other stars like France’s Karim Benzema, Brazilian star Neymar, and Senegalese striker Sadio Mane have also left Europe behind for bumper pay packets in the Gulf kingdom.
Asked about the level of the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo added: “They can say what they want, it’s just my opinion. I have played there for a year so I know what I’m talking about.
“I think that now we are better than the French championship and we continue to improve.”
Howeveer, it has not been all roses for all European players playing in the Saudi league.
Former Liverpool and England midfielder, Jordan Henderson, joined Al-Ettifaq in July but had his contract cancelled so he could join the Dutch giants.
He signed a three-year contract, worth a reported £700,000 a week, but left having made just 17 league appearances.
Despite his short stay, the former Sunderland trainee would not criticise the league and said he would not advise players against going.
