Former France star Adil Rami has claimed Cristiano Ronaldo is 'talking' after his recent comments about French football.
After an acrimonious departure from Man United in 2022, Ronaldo shocked the football world when he signed for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr.
Although Ronaldo was the first household name to move to Saudi Arabia, an exodus of talent followed, with Ronaldo being joined by the likes of Karim Benzema and Neymar.
When Ronaldo was named Best Middle Eastern Player at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai on Friday, he set his sights on Ligue 1 while commenting on Saudi football.
'Saudi League is of course better than Ligue 1.' said Ronaldo. 'France only has PSG. The rest is done. Try sprinting in 38, 39, 40 degree weather and see…'
He added: “It is difficult to become a champion in Saudi Arabia. This year Al-Hilal is better, Al-Ittihad is at the top of the league, but I believe we have to push hard to become champions.
“Everywhere I have played I have been a champion and I believe I will be a champion, but I won this trophy because I have scored so many goals and assists and maintained my level.”
His comments sparked online backlash from supporters and now former France international Rami has spoken out about Ronaldo's comments.
Speaking on Twitch livestream, Rami said: 'He's talking s***. You want me to show you images of the defenders in Saudi Arabia. Just because he's had a crazy career doesn't mean that once he says something it's the truth.
'I think it's a PR stunt. We have defenders, they are machines! You put it in Ligue 1 and it gets eaten.
'Cristiano Ronaldo, you know, I'm a fan. I'm team Cristiano Ronaldo, but he made a mistake. If he says that the Saudi championship is better than the one in France, he takes a lot of people with him.
Rami – who once dated actress Pamela Anderson – spent most of his professional career in France before finally retiring in 2023.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo's Al-Nassr are yet to win the Saudi top flight since moving to Saudi Arabia, with leaders Al-Ittihad some 11 points ahead of Ronaldo and Co, who are in fourth place.
The French league is considered one of the top five divisions in Europe, along with the Premier League, Germany's Bundesliga, Italy's Serie A and Spain's LaLiga.
Yet Ligue 1 is considered by many to be the weakest of the five. Only one French team has ever won the Champions League or European Cup (Marseille in 1993).
By comparison, the other four have had numerous victories; Spain leads the way (20), followed by England (15), Italy (12) and Germany (8), while France remains in seventh place behind the Netherlands (6) and Portugal (4).
“The Saudis are in a process that will take a long time, but step by step we will reach the highest level,” Ronaldo said in January 2024.
'I believe they will be in the top three or four in the world. I think we will achieve that step by step.
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