Paulo Fonseca hits back at Cristiano Ronaldo’s Ligue 1 jibe
Speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards, Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo (38) claimed that the Saudi Pro League is better than Ligue 1. Lille OSC manager Paulo Fonseca has now hit back at his compatriot’s claim.
“The Saudi League is not worse than Ligue 1 – it is actually more competitive than Ligue 1, I can say that after spending one year there. We are better than the French league now,” said the former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus forward, who has never competed in Ligue 1.
Fonseca has, however, questioned Ronaldo’s incentive to make such a derogatory comment, given that the Portuguese forward has never competed in the French top flight. “There is no need to make a comparison. I don’t think what he said is good. There are things that aren’t worthy of my time to respond to. This statement is one of those things. I think that intelligent people will understand why he made this statement,” said Fonseca in a press conference.
The Portugal international has a track record of defending the PIF-owned league, earlier this year claiming that the Saudi top flight is better than in his native Portugal, as well as aiming a slight dig at former Paris Saint-Germain star and current Inter Miami man Lionel Messi by saying the Pro League is “much better than the MLS”.
Ronaldo’s comments have also drawn stinging criticism from other managers in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. Girondin de Bordeaux’s Albert Riera said, “I can’t understand how he can say that in front of his television, without having ever played here,” whilst Stade Brestois’ Eric Roy stated, “It’s not that I don’t agree but Cristiano Ronaldo has never played in Ligue 1. How can he pass judgment?”
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
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