Man United Legend Ferdinand Blasts ‘Shameful’ Media, Those Criticising Ronaldo’s Saudi Arabia Move

• Rio Ferdinand has slammed the media for criticising Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia
• Ferdinand was teammates with CR7 at Man United from the 2003-2004 season until 2008-2009
• Ronaldo joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in January after terminating his United contract

Rio Ferdinand has strongly criticised the media for singling out Cristiano Ronaldo following his move to the Saudi Pro League.

Surprising many, Ronaldo opted to trade Europe for the Middle East following a turbulent second stint with Manchester United, joining Al-Nassr.

However, his transfer to the Gulf region has faced strong backlash from a section of the media, with critics labelling it as a 'disappointing' conclusion to an illustrious career.

Nevertheless, Ferdinand, the renowned Man United legend who established himself as the most expensive defender of all time in 2002, staunchly maintains that Ronaldo's move to the Middle East should be seen in a similar light to Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard's transfers to the United States.

Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer: Is CR7 leaving Manchester United and which clubs are likely to acquire him?

Football

The Englishman firmly believes that Ronaldo's decision should not be subjected to excessive scrutiny.

“The media is shameful. When Rooney, Beckham, Lampard, and Gerrard went to America, they said it was a great way to end their careers, to make a lot of money in a league that isn’t as competitive as they deserved,” Ferdinand said on Vibe with Five, as quoted by Daily Post.

Ferdinand, who is close friends with the five-time Ballon d'Or recipient, reckons his former United teammate is unfairly criticised for his decision to move to the Gulf region.

“This is all I have been reading in the media. But when Cristiano Ronaldo decided to do this, it became a shame and a disaster all because he went to Saudi Arabia…”

He added: “I’m glad he’s finally happy. For any footballer, whatever his level, happiness and being content in the environment in which we play is one of the most important things.”

Fans say the same thing as Romelu Lukaku reportedly receives Al-Hilal offer

Football

Ronaldo's Saudi sojourn

Despite Cristiano Ronaldo's first season in Saudi Arabia concluding without a trophy, the Portuguese phenom undeniably left a lasting mark on the league with his exceptional individual performances.

According to Transfermarkt, he notched 14 goals and provided two assists in 16 appearances in the Saudi top flight.

In addition to his personal achievements, the former Real Madrid goal-scoring machine brought an unprecedented level of media coverage to the league, resulting in a remarkable surge in Al-Nassr's social media presence.

By endorsing the Saudi league's ongoing project of enhancing the quality of the championship through the addition of top stars like himself, Ronaldo has expressed his belief that the league has the potential to compete with Europe's top five leagues in the coming years.

Ferdinand on CR7's second coming

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Rio Ferdinand has accused Cristiano Ronaldo of manufacturing the big interview with Piers Morgan to force an exit from Manchester United after failing to secure a move this past summer.

Former PSG star to reunite with Ronaldo after controversial Messi remarks

Football

Ronaldo raised several hot topics in the interview, pointing the finger at Man United ownership under the Glazers, saying nothing has changed since he left the club more than 10 years ago.

When the 20-time Premier League champions signed him, there was plenty of fanfare which quickly deteriorated after results started going badly. Some feel he cost Ole Gunnar Solskjaer his job as manager.