UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin made his resolute viewpoint regarding players’ migration to Saudi Arabia clear. The trend was initiated by Cristiano Ronaldo, who shifted the global spotlight onto the budding Saudi Pro League, a transition that has earned him recognition from many. However, the head of the European Football Association considers this trend of players flocking to Saudi Arabia to drive change as a mere ‘joke’.

Just last week, the Al Nassr striker made bold statements claiming that the Saudi League offers better competition than even Ligue 1. Nevertheless, while there is a growing trend of European players moving to Saudi Arabia, Aleksander Ceferin remains unfazed.

Ceferin reveals the Saudi League influx, and it’s not because of Cristiano Ronaldo

In an interview with The Telegraph, Aleksander Ceferin discussed the influence of Cristiano Ronaldo in attracting players to the Saudi League. “I’m not worried at all. Because European football has so strong roots,” the 56-year-old confidently stated. He also cited the example of Jordan Henderson, who has already returned from Saudi Arabia, to highlight the irreplaceable value of European soccer.

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In his words, “This is part of culture, of our history. You cannot buy this.” Continuing his rant, he further suggested, “They go because the contracts are big. And I don’t blame them for that.” But Ceferin did acknowledge that it’s reasonable for aging players seeking sizeable contracts within alternative leagues like Saudi’s.

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However, he also expressed skepticism about players claiming altruistic motives for these moves. “But to say that you are going somewhere to help, it’s more or less a joke,” concluded the president. Ceferin’s firm stance is evident, as he even ruled out the possibility of UEFA competition fixtures scheduled outside of Europe.

The perspective of UEFA’s president regarding the Saudi League is starkly contrasted with that held by Cristiano Ronaldo, who foresees the Saudi League potentially ranking among the top three leagues globally.

CR7 has high hopes for the Saudi Pro League

Shortly after triumphing at the Globe Soccer Award, Cristiano Ronaldo articulated bold assertions about the prospects of the Saudi Pro League. He expressed his conviction that the “future is changing,” leading him to dedicate himself to Saudi Arabia. The Portuguese striker optimistically speculated: “I believe they are going to be in the top three or four [leagues] in the world.”

The 38-year-old further generated shockwaves in global soccer circles by asserting candidly: “To be honest, I think the Saudi League is not worse than the French League, in my opinion.” Additionally, he shared his belief that the competition in Saudi Arabia surpassed that of Ligue 1.

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