After his longtime rival Lionel Messi completed a move to MLS, Cristiano Ronaldo couldn’t help but offer his assessment of the North American top flight.
In comments that will surprise no one, the Al Nassr striker said he believes the Saudi Pro League is superior to the league Messi now calls home.
“The Saudi league is better than MLS,” Ronaldo told a press conference after he was asked about the chance of following Messi to North America.
Speaking after Al Nassr fell 5-0 to Celta Vigo in a preseason friendly, Ronaldo claimed some credit for being the first of what now seems to be a constant stream of big-name players moving to the Saudi league.
“I opened the way to the Saudi league, and now all the players are coming here,” the Portugal star said.
He added: “In one year, more and more top players will come to Saudi. In a year the Saudi league will overtake the Turkish league and Dutch league.”
While he ruled out the possibility of moving to MLS, Ronaldo also emphasized that after a record-filled run with Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, he will not be returning to Europe.
“I’m 100 percent sure I won’t return to any European club,” Ronaldo said. “I’m 38 years old. And European football has lost a lot of quality. The only valid one and still doing good is the Premier League. They’re way ahead of all the other leagues.”
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