Rio Ferdinand has criticised the media for suggesting that his former teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo made a bad move to join AL Nassr, a club in Saudi Arabia.
The Portugal striker signed for Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia on Friday last week in a deal believed to be worth more than 200 million euros.
The 37-year-old former Real Madrid striker penned a contract which will take him to June 2025, the club announced but media, both print and social media are awash with posts which blame the 5-time Ballon d’Or winner. Pindula News presents Ferdinand’s response to the posts:
The media is disgusting. When Rooney, Beckham, Lampard and Gerrard went to America, they used to say that it was a great way to end their career, What a way to finish their careers, getting great money, going to a league that’s not as competitive, let them go, they’ve deserved that, they’ve earned the right. That’s all I saw in the media. But when Cristiano Ronaldo decided to do this, it became a shame and a disaster only because he went to Saudi Arabia.
I’m pleased for him that he’s finally happy. For any footballer whatever level you’re playing in, happiness and being happy in the environment you’re playing in is one of the most important things. He hasn’t been happy for a while so I’m pleased he’s on the verge of finding that happiness, albeit in a country that not many people expected him to go to. But what a prospect that is, what an adventure that is for him to go to Saudi to go and play in a brand new league, a competitive league over there by the way.
I’ve looked at people commenting and a few pundits saying it’s a sad way for him to go out. The only sadness is the way it ended at Manchester United. I think in hindsight in a couple of years he’ll look back and think it could have been handled differently. But this next chapter, going to Saudi. How is that a sad way to end his career? I don’t understand how people are saying that.
Let a man go and live, let a man go and enjoy it. It’s a new adventure he’s taking his family to experience a new culture. Every other player that’s gone to a less competitive league to end their career has been told you’ve earned the right. No man on the planet would have earned the right more than this guy.