While Cristiano Ronaldo has parted ways with the Premier League, there is no doubt about his impact. The player single-handedly changed the game during his time at Manchester United. While the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has now moved to greener pastures, some Portuguese players still thank him. In a recent interview, CR7’s fellow compatriot touched on the impact of the talisman opening the door of the Premier League for other Portuguese soccer players.

Ronaldo has been somewhat of a scapegoat following his scathing comments against Liga Portugal. In an interview earlier this month, the Al Nassr captain had thrashed the league claiming it to be a circus. Ronaldo then added more to the woes as he compared Liga Portugal with the Saudi Pro League, adding that the Middle Eastern league was better in terms of quality.

Ruben Vinagre thanks Ronaldo for paving the path

Twenty-four-year-old Ruben Vinagre is the latest in the list of Portuguese names who hope to leave their mark on the Premier League. The player was roped in by the Wolverhampton Wanderers this season, and the player will be hoping to prove his worth.

In a recent interview, the player thanked Cristiano Ronaldo, hailing him for opening the door to the Premier League for the Portuguese players. “I grew up watching Ronaldo at Manchester (United) and I thought I’d love to play in England. When Wolves provided the opportunity, of course, I wanted to go there and prove myself. Ronaldo opened up English football for Portuguese players. Now there are a lot of Portuguese players in the Premier League and the Championship. Every kid dreams of playing in England.”

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While Vinagre has been vocal about his appreciation for the Portuguese, not everyone feels the same. The Al Nassr superstar has left a lot of Portuguese fans fuming after his recent comments against Liga Portugal.

Cristiano Ronaldo labels Liga Portugal a circus

It seems like Cristiano Ronaldo is growing fond of the Saudi Pro League with each passing day. The Al Nassr captain has been vocal about the quality present in the league as of late. During one of his media scrums from the Euro Qualifiers, Ronaldo verbally ripped Portugal to shreds.

The Portuguese star went all in on his country’s top flight, claiming it was inferior in comparison to the Saudi Pro League. The player then added salt to the wounds as he deemed the league a circus.

“I believe that the Arab League is better than the Portuguese one. It’s not just the controversy, there’s not so much fuss, and the quality of the names is much better. I hope it can get better. I know it will be difficult. Possibly impossible. It turns out to be a circus what has been happening lately.”

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Cristiano’s statements have not sat down well with the general populace. Liga Portugal’s President staunchly defended the league claiming that the national league was far ahead of the SPL in terms of quality. Do you think Cristiano was harsh with his words? Let us know in the comments below.