.jpg)
7 months ago
37 ARTICLE AD
Although he has been in the glory days of the Saudi championship for more than a year, Cristiano Ronaldo will not play forever. His inevitable departure portends a sad future, according to some.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to leave Manchester United to join Al-Nassr on December 30, 2022 has caused a lot of ink to flow. At the time, the five-time Ballon d’Or still seemed capable of playing in one of the biggest European championships. But the Portuguese’s decision was made, he would delight the supporters of the Saudi Pro League for at least two seasons. And the arrival of CR7 in Saudi Arabia caused a significant influx of European and world stars. A few months after his signing for Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo saw Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté and Neymar in turn sign up with various SPL clubs. However, some worry about when these aging stars will leave.
Long before Cristiano Ronaldo, other players tried the Saudi adventure. This is for example the case of Théo Bücker, former midfielder for Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04 who spent three seasons at Al-Ittihad as a player and who also coached several Saudi clubs after his reconversion. A keen and informed observer of what is currently happening in the Saudi Pro League, the seventy-five-year-old man is delighted with the arrival of stars, but is already worried about what comes next. He opened up about it in a local media, first emphasizing the presence of CR7.
And Benzema
“ Cristiano is a totally different player and in the future he will take Saudi football forward and take it forward. » But in the columns ofArriyadiyah, Théo Bücker also expressed his concern. “ I’m afraid that once players like him are gone, the level (from Saudi football) returns to what it was before. This is an opportunity for all players and clubs to learn from him and other stars, but it must be sustainable. »
In his analysis, the German technician also had words for Karim Benzema, in difficulty since his arrival at the Al-Ittihad club whose jersey he also wore, more than forty years ago. “ He was, and continues to be, a distinguished and capable player, that hasn’t changed. But his entourage (in the field) is different today. At Real Madrid he had players alongside him who worked well and whose performances were high. It’s easier when players send balls of higher quality than normal. »
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
