Jallet: “Ronaldo is hated in Saudi Arabia”
ARAB SAUDI Former PSG and France player Christophe Jallet thinks that Cristiano Ronaldo is destroying his legendary status at Al Nassr club.

“Ronaldo has become the object of hate”, Jallet said on Canal Plus on April 26. “Those are actions you don’t want to see. He’sa legend and he’s about to ruin it all “.

Ronaldo once had an illustrious career, when he won three Premier Leagues, two La Ligas, five Champions Leagues and five Golden Balls. With Portugal, he has Euro 2016 and Nations League 2019. Ronaldo also holds a record of 834 goals, of which topped the list of goalscoring Real Madrid (450 goals), Portugal (122 goals) and the Champions League. (140 tables).

Ronaldo held his face in disappointment in the defeat to Al Wehda in the semi-final finals of the King’s Cup on April 24. Photo: Kooora

After leaving Real in 2019, Ronaldo’s career went downhill. Due to condemning coach Erik ten Hag and the club, he had to leave Man Utd in early November 2022. According to European media, Ronaldo was confident that he would find a club with tickets to the Champions League. But in fact, a series of big clubs, including Bayern, Chelsea, Real, Atletico and PSG, all refused for professional reasons. Smaller clubs cannot afford his huge salary.

In January 2023, Ronaldo went to Saudi Arabia to sign a two-and-a-half year contract with Al Nassr. He is said to have the highest income in the world of football, about 200 million USD per year including salary and promotion contracts.

Jallet assessed that Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr was a mistake. According to the former PSG and France defender, CR7 should have found a suitable European club after leaving Man Utd. “I want to see Ronaldo again at the club that trained him, Sporting Lisbon. I don’t understand why he chose this step”, he said.

Although Ronaldo has scored 11 goals in 14 games, Al Nassr is second in the Saudi Pro League, three points behind leaders Al Ittihad and playing one more game. They also lost to Al-Ittihad 1-3 in the semi-final of the Saudi Super Cup and lost to Al Wehda 0-1 in the semi-final of the King Cup. Coach Rudi Garcia has had to leave after only 13 games since Ronaldo arrived.

After the failures of Al Nassr, Ronaldo also reacted negatively. In the 0-2 loss to Al Hilal, he wrestled an opponent while competing for the ball and was accused of making an indecent gesture to the audience. After the loss to Al Wehda on April 24, Ronaldo also raised his voice with a member of the coaching staff about the pitch.

Saudi Arabia only has two tickets to the AFC Champions League next season, for the champion of the Saudi Pro League and the King Cup. If it is not possible to overcome Al Ittihad in the last seven rounds of the Saudi Pro League, Al Nassr will miss the appointment with the most prestigious tournament on the continent.

Ronaldo criticized the grass for being too dry when Al Nassr lost

ARAB SAUDI Striker Cristiano Ronaldo shouted to the coaching staff and demanded more water on the grass, after the first half loss of Al Nassr in the King Cup.

After the Romanian referee Radu Petrescu blew the whistle to the end of the first half, Ronaldo repeatedly shook his head into the tunnel. At that time, Al Nassr was being led 1-0 by the away team Al Wehda. The 38-year-old captain looked at his teammates, then turned away again and shook his head. When he reached the touchline, he spoke loudly towards the coaching staff.

According to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, Ronaldo blamed the person responsible for Al Nassr’s Al Awal Park pitch. He thought the grass was too dry and asked them to water the grass before the second half started.

Al Wehda is ranked 13th out of 16 teams in the Saudi League, unexpectedly leading Al Nassr in the 23rd minute with a superb hook from striker Jean-David Beauguel. Despite having to play short of players from the 53rd minute with the red card of center-back Abdullah Al Hafith, the away team still preserved the score to reach the final against Al Hilal.

After the game ended, the away player’s substitute rushed into the field to cheer, and Ronaldo went out of the field, continuing to shake his head.

Ronaldo shouted at the coaching staff, demanding more water for the grass.

Ronaldo finished six times in this match, but less charming. Morocco goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi saved four times in the match, earning the highest score from the away team. In it, he twice saved the ecstasy from Ronaldo’s close-range finish. When captain Al Nassr beat Mohamedi, the ball hit the crossbar again.

In the previous match against Al Wehda in the Saudi League on February 9, 2023, Ronaldo also set up a “poker” to help Al Nassr win 4-0 at home. It is also the only time the 38-year-old striker has scored four goals this year.

Ronaldo entered the semi-finals of the King’s Cup, rematching Al Wehda in a relaxed spirit. During the warm-up before the game, he also took a reporter’s camera to take pictures of his teammates, laughing and joking. However, the match did not go as expected of the Portuguese striker.

Ronaldo debuted Al Nassr on a free transfer on January 3, 2023, at that time, this team topped the Saudi League, qualified for the quarterfinals of the King Cup and the semi-finals of the Super Cup. Currently, Al Nassr falls to the second place in the group, being eliminated in the semi-finals of the King Cup and the Super Cup