“I Tell All Players in Europe to Come to Saudi Arabia”- Cristiano Ronaldo Invites More Competition After Becoming Top Goal Scorer of 2023

Around this time last year, Cristiano Ronaldo agreed to join the Saudi Pro League’s Al Nassr. What followed in the 2023-24 season was an exodus of top class soccer players from Europe to Saudi Arabia. Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, and Brazilian superstar Neymar, among others, are some of the big names that followed Ronaldo’s suit. Now, thanks to the Portuguese captain’s 54 goals, the Saudi League houses the world’s top scorer in 2023. With CR7’s goal-scoring feat likely to catapult the League’s popularity, he has called for other superstar players to follow his suit.

Cristiano Ronaldo had earlier turned heads after saying the Saudi League would soon be a competition for Europe’s top five leagues. Now he says, everyone around the world watches the Pro League.

Cristiano Ronaldo wants to recruit more players to the Saudi Pro League

Ronaldo set the goal-scoring feat with a 92nd minute strike in Al Nassr’s 4-1 win against Al Taawoun. Shortly after the feat, Cristiano Ronaldo spoke to the Saudi media and made a call to other players to catch a Saudi flight. “Everyone watches the Saudi League, and I tell all the players in Europe to come to Saudi Arabia,” the five-time Ballon d’Or winner said.

The Portuguese captain’s plea towards superstars comes as no surprise. Firstly, Al Nassr and every other Saudi club is lacing up for a huge splurge in the January transfer window. Furthemore, Ronaldo himself has played a crucial role in the moves of Alex Telles and Otavio to Al Nassr. So, it is a given that the January transfer window will also see a large movement of European players to Saudi Arabia.

Superstars in the Saudi League radar

Per rumors, Saudi League clubs have eyed former Real Madrid stars Casemiro and Raphael Varane. Their current club, Manchester United, has agreed to hear offers from other clubs. Apart from Casemiro and Varane, Real Madrid veteran Luka Modric too is linked to Saudi clubs. Modric had extended his contract with Madrid till the end of the current season. However, Pro League clubs have long been making offers to the 2018 Ballon door winner, and he could possibly switch to Saudi in January.

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The rumor mill also understands that Manchester City ace Kevin De Bruyne and Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah are also tied to the Saudi League. Al Ittihad had already made a record offer to Salah. Though the player had snubbed it then, the chances of him giving in cannot be overruled. Who do you think will follow Cristiano Ronaldo’s suit? Let us know in the comments below.

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