Cristiano Ronaldo paved the way for the likes of N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema to test themselves in Saudi Arabia, but Lionel Messi bucked the trєɴԀ.
Cristiano Ronaldo has ruled out a return to European football, crushing any hope that Arsenal, Chelsea or Tottenham may – or may not – have had. The 38-year-old striker was heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge afterleaving Manchester United with immediate effect in November.
An explosive TV interview with Piers Morgan was the final straw for Erik ten Hag. The Red Devils were said to have been ‘furious’ after Ronaldo’s attack of the club caught them by surprise, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner claiming that he felt betrayed.
United sought legal advice and the Portugal international was subsequently allowed to leave as a free agent. Naturally, numerous top clubs were linked with Ronaldo — one of which being Chelsea after Todd Boehly had previouslymet with super agent Jorge MєɴԀes.
Tottenham also considered signing the Portuguese star, but they decided against a move, according toɾєρօɾτs. Instead, Ronaldo jetted off to the Saudi Arabia to join Al-Nassr – and his venture to the Middle East has encouraged his fellow professionals to follow suit.
N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema have joined Al Ittihad, while Al-Ahli have secured the signatures of Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard MєɴԀy. Ruben Neves and Roberto Firmino have also decided to test themselves in the Saudi Pro League – as has Steven Gerrard, who’s recently been appointed first-team head coach at Al Ettifaq.
However, while some of Europe’s biggest names flocked to the Middle East, Lionel Messi decided to buck the trєɴԀ and join Inter Miami. No more than a day after the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was unveiled by the Florida-based side, Ronaldo claimed that the ‘Saudi Pro League is better than the MLS’ and insisted that he won’t be lacing his boots again in Europe.
“The Saudi league is better than the MLS,” he said, as quoted byFabrizio Romano. “I’m 100% sure I won’t return to any European club. I opened the way to the Saudi league and now all the players are coming here.
“I won’t return to European football, the door is completely closed. I’m 38-years-old, also European football has lost lot of quality. The only league that for me has a lot of quality and is at a higher level than all the others is the Premier League.
“The Spanish league does not have that great quality,” added Ronaldo. “The Portuguese league is a good league, but it is not a top, top league. The German league I think has also lost a lot. I’m sure I won’t play in Europe again. I want to play in Saudi Arabia.”
