Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo pledged to remain in Saudi Arabia next season on Thursday despite failing to land any silverware since his lucrative move to the oil-rich kingdom.
Ronaldo’s January signing for Al Nassr has been followed by speculation about how long he will stay, including reports of a swap deal with Saudi-owned Newcastle United who have now qualified for next season’s Champions League.
But the 38-year-old said in an official Saudi Pro League interview: “I am happy here, I want to continue here, I will continue here. And in my opinion if they continue to do the work that they want to do here, for the next five years, I think the Saudi league can be a top five league in the world.”
Ronaldo’s 14 goals in 16 league appearances were only enough for a second-place finish for the Riyadh club, a favourite of some senior Saudi royals. In January, the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus marksman signed a two-and-a-half year deal said to be worth more than 400mn euros.
He admitted some Saudi conventions had taken him by surprise, including late-night training sessions during the Holy month of Ramadan.
“In Europe we train more in the morning, but here we train in the afternoon, or evening and in Ramadan we train at 10 at night,” he said.
“So this is so strange, but as I tell you these situations are part of an experience, memories. I like to live these moments because you learn with these things. I expected to win something this year, but we didn’t, but next year I am really positive and confident that things will change, and we go in a better way.”
Reality is not the Internet, Benzema says of lucrative Saudi move
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema insisted yesterday that “reality is not the Internet” in response to rumours of a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia. “Why am I going to talk about the future if I am in Madrid?” asked the Frenchman. “The thing that is talking is the Internet and reality is not the Internet.”
Benzema was responding to claims he might be en route to a Saudi club, although he still has a year left on his contract with the Spanish giants. According to Spanish press reports, Benzema could net 200mn euros ($215mn) in a two-year deal in the Gulf kingdom.
“For now I’m here,” he said. “Tomorrow I go training, I enjoy every day and on Sunday I have a game. I’m very proud of my work and I enjoy every training session, every game and the most important thing is to enjoy. When I go to Valdebebas it’s not work for me because the day it’s work I won’t want to do it anymore. I enjoy football like children do and in my head I’m still a child,” said Benzema, who has won 25 titles in his time at Real Madrid.
Benzema, speaking at an award ceremony, explained that his approach to the game meant he tried to be a more versatile striker. “I know how to score goals, but what I want in football because I like football is what I can do on the field: movement, assists – I try to do things that are not seen in other strikers.”
Benzema said retired Brazilian player Ronaldo was his role model, explaining that “not only was he a goal scorer, but he could shimmy, make assists”.
Cristiano Ronaldo
