Cristiano Ronaldo denied reports that he contacted Joao Felix to persuade him to join Al-Nassr, while indicating that the Portuguese player’s move to the Saudi league would be much better for his career than returning to Benfica in the Portuguese league.
The Ronaldo’s statements came after he scored a hat-trick against Rio Ave in a friendly match held in Portugal on Thursday, which saw Al-Nassr secure a resounding 4-0 victory.
When asked about his role in bringing Felix to Al-Nassr, Ronaldo said after the match, “I didn’t call Felix. I don’t do that, and I don’t talk on the phone to any player to convince them to move to Al-Nassr. That’s not my job. My job here is to train and play.”
He added, “We didn’t steal Joao Felix from Benfica. Stealing is a bad word, and no one stole anything from Benfica. He’s a very talented player, and I think he’ll help us a lot in the Saudi league.”
He continued, “Felix’s move to Saudi Arabia was better for him than playing in the Portuguese league. Just look at the number of stars playing in Saudi Arabia, and regardless of not participating in the Champions League, I think he made a very wise decision.”
He concluded, “The Saudi League is a very competitive league. You don’t know that because you don’t play here and don’t know the rhythm, but we saw what Al Hilal did, for example, in the Club World Cup.”
Ronaldo’s third season with Al Nassr begins on August 19, when Al Nassr faces Al Ittihad in the Saudi Super Cup semifinals. The 40-year-old hopes to win his first official title with the Knights of Najd after two seasons without a title.
