Former France star Adil Rami has claimed Cristiano Ronaldo ‘talks s***’ 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 side Al-Nassr.
Though Ronaldo was the first high-profile name to move to Saudi, an exodus of talent followed, with Ronaldo joined by the likes of Karim Benzema and Neymar.
Then, after being named the Best Middle East Player at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai on Friday, Ronaldo took aim at Ligue 1 as he commented on Saudi football.
‘Saudi League is better than Ligue 1, of course.’ Ronaldo said. ‘France only has PSG. The rest are finished. Try to sprint in 38, 39, 40 degree weather and see…’
He added: ‘It is difficult to become champion in Saudi. This year Al-Hilal are better, Al-Ittihad are top of the league, but I believe that we have to push hard to be champions.
Adil Rami has claimed Cristiano Ronaldo ‘talks s***’ after his recent comments about Ligue 1
The former Marseille defender claimed that Ronaldo would get ‘eaten’ by defenders in France
‘I’ve been champion everywhere I have (played) and I believe I will be champion, but I’ve won this trophy for scoring so many goals and assists and maintaining my level.’
His comments provoked backlash from supporters online and now former France international Rami has spoken out about Ronaldo’s remarks.
Speaking on Twitch live stream, Rami said: ‘He talks s***. You want me to show you images of the defenders in Saudi Arabia. It’s not because he’s had a crazy career that as soon as he says something it’s the truth.
‘I think it’s a PR stunt. We have defenders, they are machines! You put him in Ligue 1 and he gets eaten.
‘Cristiano Ronaldo, you know, I’m a fan. I’m Team Cristiano Ronaldo but he made a mistake. When he says that the Saudi championship is better than the one in France, he brings a lot of people with him’.
Rami – who once dated actress Pamela Anderson – spent the majority of his professional career in France before eventually retiring in 2023.
Meanwhile, since moving to Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr are yet to win the Saudi top-flight, with leaders Al-Ittihad some 11 points ahead of Ronaldo and Co, who are down in fourth.
Ronaldo took aim at the French top flight during an award ceremony on Friday afternoon
His Al-Nassr trail leaders Al-Ittihad by 11 points, and are currently fourth in the Saudi Pro League
The French league is considered one of the top five divisions in Europe, along with the Premier League, Germany’s Bundesliga, Serie A of Italy and the Spanish LaLiga.
Yet of the five, Ligue 1 is by many considered to be the weakest. Only one French side has ever won the Champions League or European Cup (Marseille in 1993).
By comparison the other four have produced numerous victories; Spain lead the way (20), followed by England (15), Italy (12) and Germany (8), with France way down in seventh place behind Netherlands (6) and Portugal (4).
‘The Saudis are in a process that will take long, but step by step, we will reach the highest level,’ Ronaldo said back in January 2024.
‘I believe they are going to be in the top three or four in the world. Step by step, I think we are going to reach that.