According to Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo, the Saudi Pro League has the potential to rank among the “top-five leagues in the world” if it can draw in more star players.
Ronaldo, 38, says they are “very welcome” to follow him to Saudi Arabia. Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema, and Luka Modric have all been linked with transfers there.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner joined Al Nassr in December and has now finished his debut season there.
He said he “will continue here” for the upcoming season and that his contract runs through 2025.
The French club Paris St. Germain has revealed that Argentina striker Lionel Messi, 35, will depart the team this summer. Messi also serves as Saudi Arabia’s tourist ambassador.
At the twilight of their careers, Benzema and Modric, Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammates, are rumored to be looking for lucrative moves as well.
In an interview with the SPL, Ronaldo remarked, “If they are coming, big players and big names, young players, ‘old players,’ they are very welcome because if that happens, the league will improve a little bit.”
“The league is very good, but I believe we still have a lot of room to grow.” There is rivalry in the league. We have highly talented Arab athletes on our squads.
“However, the infrastructure needs to be improved a little bit more. The VAR system should be a little bit speedier, including the referees.
When his contract was mutually terminated in November of last year, Ronaldo’s second spell with Manchester United came to an end.
He not only scored in five separate World Cup competitions, but also helped Riyadh-based Al Nassr come second to champions Al Hilal with 14 goals in 16 games.
Ronaldo, who holds the records for the most goals and appearances at the international level, continued, “I think other small things they need to improve.”
“However, I’m content here, I want to stay here, and I’ll stay here. And if they keep up the good work they’re doing here for the next five years, in my opinion, the Saudi league can rank among the top five leagues in the world.