Cristiano Ronaldo believes Saudi Pro League is on the rise

Cristiano Ronaldo believes Saudi Pro League is on the rise

Cristiano Ronaldo believes that the Saudi Pro League is on the rise and could one day be a top-five league in the world.

Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr in the Saudi League for $200 million annually in January, believes he has seen enough improvement during his short time in the league to convince him of its future potential.

“We are much better and the Saudi league is getting better and the next year will be even better,” he told Saudi SSC channel on Tuesday.

Via ESPN

Ronaldo does know what it is like to play in a top-five league, previously playing for Real Madrid in La Liga, Juventus in Serie A and having two stints with Manchester United in the Premier League.

He joined Al-Nassr in the Saudi League after a serious falling out with Manchester United. United manager Erik Ten Hag was not using Ronaldo as a starter and was instead using him sparingly as a bench player. The relationship between Ten Hag and Ronaldo soured and Ronaldo even refused to come on as a substitute in a game against Tottenham.

His interview with Piers Morgan where he criticized both his manager and the club is when his relationship with Manchester United truly ended. He and the club both then agreed to a mutual termination of his contract following the interview.

Ronaldo moved to Al-Nassr in the Saudi League following the World Cup. He has 14 goals and two assists in 18 total appearances for Al-Nassr so far this season.

While Ronaldo’s claim that the Saudi Pro League could become one of the top five leagues in the world is bold, there is definitely a world where it could become an elite league. The teams and the league have plenty of money and plenty of ambition, with Al-Hilal’s astonishing $400 million a year offer for Lionel Messi as a perfect example.

There is more to being an elite league than simply employing aging superstars, however. For the Saudi Pro League to improve, they will need to invest in better player recruitment, youth player development and better club infrastructure.

Ronaldo did acknowledge this, admitting there are steps the league needs to take to improve.

“Step-by-step I think this league will be among the top five leagues in the world but they need time, players and infrastructure,” Ronaldo said. “But I believe that this country has amazing potential, they have amazing people and the league will be great in my opinion.”

Will Ronaldo’s claim about the Saudi League come true one day? It is too early to tell, but with the money and ambition that exists in Saudi Arabian soccer, anything is possible.

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