It’s been a couple of months since Cristiano Ronaldo shocked everyone with his departure from Manchester United. He signed a 2-year deal with the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. It was a monumental feat for the entire league. Signing Ronaldo led to an exponential increase in the popularity of the Saudi Arabian league.
This was the plan all along. Bringing Ronaldo has an obvious impact on the club he was playing for. However, the overall impact he had on the league is why Al-Nassr went and offered a mammoth contract to the Portuguese star.
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Saudi Arabian is now extending offers to other bright prospects from Europe to come and play in the Saudi Pro League. However, whether this plan will work or not is still debatable. However, it starting to have its initial impact on the European players and teams.
Leaving Europe to play with Cristiano Ronaldo
Evening Standard has just reported that Crystal Palace’s star winger Wilfried Zaha has made up his mind to not sign an extension with his club. The management is trying its best to convince him to sign a deal. But it appears that the star has taken a firm stand.
According to the Evening Standard, Saudi Arabian clubs – including Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr – are circling 30-year-old Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha with the belief he would be open to a Middle East move for the right price.
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They report the reason behind him not signing the extension is his will to play in Saudi Arabia. The publication also mentioned that AC Milan is also eyeing the Ivory Coast star, but it appears that at this moment his affiliation towards Saudi Arabia is far more than staying and playing in Europe.
The former Manchester United star has spent almost all of his senior career at Crystal Palace. However, he might soon be the next big name to leave Europe and play in the Pro League. Including Al-Nassr, three different Saudi Arabian clubs are eyeing Zaha and might pitch an offer at the end of the season.
It looks like the Saudi Pro League is set to rival its European counterparts in excitement, especially if this rumor of a renewed rivalry comes to fruition.
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A thin possibility of Lionel Messi vs Ronaldo again
Since the Saudi Arabian league is exploding in popularity and the aspects from all around the world are being monitored by Arabian clubs. They will try to lay hands on the Argentinian magician Lionel Messi. Toward the end of this season, the Argentine is set to be a free agent. According to a plethora of reports, Messi is not keen to sign an extension with Paris Saint-Germain.
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Every league will try to sign possibly the biggest free agent that the summer transfer window has to offer. Clubs like Al-Hilal might end up signing Messi, keeping a legendary rivalry alive.
What do you make of Zaha’s chances of playing with Ronaldo? Do you think Messi will be the league’s next marquee signing? Let us know in the comments below.