Ronaldo’s aim at the French League – Are the claims accurate?
He took the first step and, by his example, attracted dozens of big names to the Middle East.
A year after arriving in Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo boldly claimed that the championship was better than the French one.
In the previous twelve months, the Saudi league has significantly raised the quality by investing hundreds of millions in the arrivals of big names such as Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, Fabinho, Aymeric Laporte, and Neymar, the biggest of all mentioned, who himself commented similar to Ronaldo’s upon his arrival in Arabia.
The all-time leading scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, gave a speech at the Globe Soccer Awards, showing the importance of football in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking at the awards ceremony in Dubai, he said: “Honestly, I don’t think the Saudi league is worse than the French league. In the French league, you have two or three teams that are at a good level. In the Saudi league, there is more competition. I can say whatever they want; it’s just an opinion. I played here for a year, so I know what I’m talking about. But I think we are better than the French league now.”
And the fact that there is only PSG and no other club in France has angered many.
Among them is the former world champion of France, Adil Rami. The former Milan, Sevilla and Marseille defender, who once dated Pamela Anderson, told the Portuguese that many teams in Ligue 1 would “eat” his Al Nasr.
“Cristiano talks shit. Do you want me to show you photos of defenders in Saudi Arabia? Ronaldo had an incredible career, but now he uses some communication tricks” – said Rami, and invited Cristiano to come with Al Nassr to France:
“Come with your small club to play against Monaco, Lille, Marseille or Brest. France, along with Brazil, is the country that raises the most talents, and the clubs play excellent defensive football. Put Al Nasr in Ligue 1, and we will eat them”.
The French championship has looked like it could compete with the other five best leagues in Europe in the past decade,
but Ligue 1 is now facing a bleak outlook.
According to “L’Equipe,” the French Football Federation has still not found a solution for TV rights. The rights for the professional leagues have not been sold, and what is even more problematic is that there are no potential buyers.
There have been no offers for TV rights from 2025 to 2029 for months, so this could be a big problem.
Numerous clubs are monitoring the situation, and many could declare bankruptcy if the rights are not sold.
Among them is Brest, which even plays in the Champions League, while Lens, Nantes, Auxerre, Reims, Le Havre, Angers, and Montpellier are also mentioned.
The first man of French football, Vincent Labour, was asking for more than a billion euros per season from TV rights, but the departure of the biggest stars, among whom Kylian Mbappe is the latest, has lowered the level of the league.
According to “L’Equipe,” the French Football Federation would be willing to offer half the stated price, but no one is interested in Ligue 1. European club football has been reorganized after five seasons, and UEFA has released a new list of the top five strongest leagues, the popular “League Five.”
For years, the English Premier League, Italian Serie A, Spanish Primera Division, German Bundesliga, and French Ligue 1 have been at the top, but now there has been a change.
According to UEFA’s new ranking, the “League Five” will no longer include French Ligue 1, and for the first time in history, the Dutch Eredivisie will take that spot. Thus, French Ligue 1 has fallen to sixth place.
So, maybe C. Ronaldo was right and was telling the truth.
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