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Cristiano Ronaldo continues to make headlines, and not just for his performances in Saudi Arabia. His recent criticism of Ligue 1, which he described as worse than the Saudi Pro League, provoked strong reactions. An emblematic former Ligue 1 player who attacks the Portuguese star, denouncing what he considers to be gratuitous attacks.
During his show Rothen S’enflamme on RMC Sport, Jérôme Rothen castigated Cristiano Ronaldo’s criticism of the French championship. “Ronaldo talks about a championship he doesn’t know”, he said, recalling that the former Manchester United and Real Madrid player never played in Ligue 1, although he faced several French teams in European competitions.
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Ronaldo is still being singled out.
“Ronaldo remains bitter towards Ligue 1”
For Rothen, these statements reflect a certain resentment from Ronaldo towards the French championship. “He had the opportunity to come to Ligue 1, notably to PSG, but it didn’t happen. Maybe it’s still a little fracture for him.” Despite an extraordinary career, Rothen believes that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner seems to want to demean Ligue 1 at every opportunity, which he believes is unjustified.
He also wanted to defend Ligue 1 against comparisons with the Saudi Pro League. “The Belgian championship is much tougher than that of Saudi Arabia. Ronaldo takes a free shot at Ligue 1, a championship he doesn’t know but which remains of good quality, even this season where some big teams are struggling.
A virulent but nuanced criticism
Although very critical of Ronaldo, Rothen did not fail to emphasize his admiration for the player and his career.
“I love Ronaldo, his career is incredible. But I don’t understand why he is so focused on Ligue 1.”
Rothen concluded by suggesting that these criticisms could also be a disguised way for Ronaldo to make a call, in case an opportunity presents itself in Ligue 1.
The debate around the comments of Ronaldo and Neymar continues to grow, and this new outing from Rothen could well relaunch the discussion on the true level of Ligue 1 compared to other championships.
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.
