Ronaldo ‘Happy’ in Saudi Arabia, Wants Other Top Players to Join Him

Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Nassr v Al Shabab - KSU Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 23, 2023 Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Nassr v Al Shabab - KSU Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 23, 2023 Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
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Ronaldo ‘Happy’ in Saudi Arabia, Wants Other Top Players to Join Him

Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Nassr v Al Shabab - KSU Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 23, 2023 Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Nassr v Al Shabab - KSU Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 23, 2023 Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri

Cristiano Ronaldo said he is happy in Saudi Arabia and hopes other big-name players will follow him to the league for the next campaign.

Ronaldo signed a 2-1/2 year contract with Al Nassr, making his debut in January.

He scored 14 goals in 16 games but it was not enough to help his side win the Saudi Pro League (SPL) title, with Al Nassr finishing second behind Al Ittihad.

The 38-year-old, who missed the final matchday due to injury, said the league was very competitive but that there were many opportunities to grow.

"We have very good teams, very good Arab players, but the infrastructure - they need to improve a little bit more."

"But I'm happy here, I want to continue here, I will continue here," he added, Reuters reported.

Ronaldo said he had adapted to life at the club, though there were many differences from his time at Europe.

"In Europe we train more in the morning and here we train in the afternoon, or night. When you start Ramadan, we train at 10 o'clock in the night." he added.

Since Ronaldo's arrival, several other top players have been linked with a move to the Saudi league, with Lionel Messi receiving a formal offer to join Al-Hilal next season.

Ronaldo's former team mate and Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema has reportedly received an offer worth more than 100 million euros from Al Ittihad.

"If they are coming, big players and big names, young players, 'old players', they are very welcome," said Ronaldo.

"If that happens, the league will improve a little bit. Age is not important."



Coach Murray and Djokovic Part Ways Ahead of French Open

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 26, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts during his round of 64 match against Italy's Matteo Arnaldi REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 26, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts during his round of 64 match against Italy's Matteo Arnaldi REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo
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Coach Murray and Djokovic Part Ways Ahead of French Open

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 26, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts during his round of 64 match against Italy's Matteo Arnaldi REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 26, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts during his round of 64 match against Italy's Matteo Arnaldi REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo

Andy Murray will no longer coach 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, with the pair's high-profile partnership coming to an end after only six months, the Briton's team announced on Tuesday.

Djokovic appointed fellow former world number one Murray ahead of this year's Australian Open and the Serb said at the Qatar Open in February that he would continue working with Murray for an indefinite period.

However, the partnership will now end as Djokovic looks to arrest a dip in form during the clay season by competing in the Geneva Open next week, ahead of his quest for a fourth French Open title when Roland Garros gets underway on May 25, Reuters reported.

"Thanks to Novak for the unbelievable opportunity to work together and thanks to his team for all their hard work over the past six months," Murray said in a statement.

"I wish Novak all the best for the rest of the season."

Djokovic, who won 25 of his 36 matches against Murray, said he was grateful for his former rival's hard work and support in their short spell together.

"I really enjoyed deepening our friendship together," Djokovic added.