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 Jiu-Jitsu Team Secures 10 Medals at World Championship in Greece

The Saudi jiu-jitsu team won a total of 10 medals at the World Championship held in Crete, from October 23 to November 4. SPA
The Saudi jiu-jitsu team won a total of 10 medals at the World Championship held in Crete, from October 23 to November 4. SPA
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Saudi Jiu-Jitsu Team Secures 10 Medals at World Championship in Greece

The Saudi jiu-jitsu team won a total of 10 medals at the World Championship held in Crete, from October 23 to November 4. SPA
The Saudi jiu-jitsu team won a total of 10 medals at the World Championship held in Crete, from October 23 to November 4. SPA

The Saudi jiu-jitsu team won a total of 10 medals — 3 gold, 3 silver, and 4 bronze — at the World Championship held in Crete, Greece, from October 23 to November 4.

Saudi jiu-jitsu team members who won gold medals are: Mohammed Al-Mukhlis in the under-69 kg category (Masters Division), Omar Nada in the under-94 kg category (Senior Team Division), and Abdullah Nada in the under-85 kg category (Youth Division).

Silver medals were won by Abdulmalik Al-Murdi in the under-62 kg category (Senior Team Division), Elias Banjar in the under-62 kg category (Youth Division), and Waleed Al-Haidari in the under-56 kg category (Youth Division).

Bronze medals went to Osamah Al-Marwia in the "No Gi" category, Khaled Habab, who earned two medals in the under-52 kg and "No Gi - 52 kg" categories (Youth Division), and Hadeel Qadha in the under-57 kg category (Junior Division).

Jiu-Jitsu Federation chief executive Rakan Al-Fehaid emphasized that the achievement by the Saudi team was made possible by the unwavering support of the Saudi leadership for sports federations.