Former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo has accused Cristiano Ronaldo of moving to Saudi Arabia for financial reasons.
Ighalo, who played in the Saudi Pro League for Al-Hilal last season, said that he moved to the country purely for the money, and that he believes Ronaldo did the same.
“I’m not one of those players who come here and say, ‘I play out of passion,'” Ighalo told OmaSportsTV. “My brother, it’s for the money.
“Ronaldo has won 100x more than me in my whole life and yet he went to Saudi Arabia. He did it for the money.”
Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in December 2022 after leaving Manchester United. The Portuguese forward has scored 14 goals in 18 appearances for his new club.
Ighalo’s comments have sparked a debate about the motivations of players who move to the Saudi Pro League. Some have argued that the league is a stepping stone for players who want to move to Europe, while others have said that it is simply a way for players to make a lot of money in a short period of time.
Ronaldo has not commented on Ighalo’s remarks. However, he has previously said that he is motivated by winning trophies and breaking records.
It remains to be seen whether Ronaldo will be able to achieve his goals in Saudi Arabia. However, there is no doubt that his move to the country has generated a lot of attention and discussion.