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."



Saudi Crown Prince Receives Paralympic Athlete Al-Qurashi after Winning Gold Medal at Paris Games

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, receives Saudi national paralympic athlete Abdulrahman Al-Qurashi in Jeddah on Monday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, receives Saudi national paralympic athlete Abdulrahman Al-Qurashi in Jeddah on Monday. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Receives Paralympic Athlete Al-Qurashi after Winning Gold Medal at Paris Games

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, receives Saudi national paralympic athlete Abdulrahman Al-Qurashi in Jeddah on Monday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, receives Saudi national paralympic athlete Abdulrahman Al-Qurashi in Jeddah on Monday. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received in Jeddah on Monday Saudi national paralympic athlete Abdulrahman Al-Qurashi on the occasion of his gold medal victory at the Paris Paralympic Games.

The Crown Prince congratulated Al-Qurashi on his achievement and continued success on the international stage, stressing that such accomplishments serve as motivation for all Saudi athletes, both men and women, to strive further toward their goals and raise the Kingdom’s flag at future global events.

Al-Qurashi expressed his sincere gratitude and deep appreciation to the Crown Prince for this reception, which he described as a source of great pride and a true reflection of the generous support and attention given to all Saudi athletes.

Al-Qurashi had previously won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in Japan.

The reception was attended by Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz.

Earlier, Crown Prince Mohammed received the Minister of Sport, Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) President Yasser Almisehal, Al-Ahli Saudi Club Chairman Khalid Al-Issa, along with the club’s staff and players, on the occasion of their victory of the 2025 AFC Champions League Elite.

The Crown Prince congratulated Al-Ahli Club officials and players on their remarkable achievement and outstanding performance, which reflect the progress of the Kingdom’s sports sector.  

He underscored the importance of continuing their hard work to further elevate the Kingdom’s reputation on the global stage.