A French superstar has advised Cristiano Ronaldo to “shut up” after he made a contentious statement on the Saudi Pro League.
Since leaving Manchester United as a free agent, Ronaldo has spent the last 14 months playing for Al-Nassr, a Saudi Arabian team. A wave of Premier League players joined Saudi Pro League teams before the five-time Ballon d’Or winner moved to the Gulf State.
The world’s highest-paid football player, Ronaldo, has settled in nicely to Saudi Arabian society both on and off the field. However, he was recently suspended for one game after making an offensive gesture towards the supporters of the rival.
The 39-year-old has responded forcefully to criticism leveled at the Saudi Pro League’s caliber on multiple occasions.
In January Ronaldo said: “The Saudi league is not worse than Ligue 1. The Saudi Pro League is more competitive than Ligue 1, I can say that after one year spent there. We are better than the French league already now.”
Many individuals were offended by his comment, notably Frank Leboeuf, a former Chelsea and France defender.
“It annoys me when I hear Cristiano Ronaldo saying that the Saudi Pro League is better than Ligue 1,” the World Cup winner told BetVictor.
“Why do you think he chose to make that comment about Ligue 1 rather than the Portuguese League?
“It’s because Lionel Messi played in Ligue 1. I have lots of respect for him as a player but come on, just shut up! It is unfair to Ligue 1.”
Furthermore, Leboeuf contended that Ronaldo shouldn’t travel with Portugal to Germany for the forthcoming European Championship.
“For me, Portugal are actually one of the contenders for this summer’s European Championships. I actually think they can win the Euros, but only if Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t play.
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“You cannot take away anything that Ronaldo has done for football just because he has gone to retire in the Saudi League.
“I want to thank him for taking the sport to another level, but there is an end for everyone. He has every right to play in Saudi Arabia, although I’m not sure he needed even more money!”
