Soccer News of Monday, 20 November 2023
Source: www.sportsbrief.com
Al Ettifaq manager Steven Gerrard hailed Cristiano Ronaldo as "the GOAT," shedding light on his own journey to Saudi Arabia and how the Portuguese star influenced his decision.
Ronaldo's surprising yet lucrative move to the Gulf region on the back of a turbulent second spell with Manchester United led to his historic transfer to Al-Nassr in January.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner's transfer acted as a catalyst, attracting numerous A-list players and managers to the Saudi Pro League, including Steven Gerrard.
Reflecting on his decision to become Al Ettifaq's head coach, the Liverpool legend credited Ronaldo for inspiring his shift to a new coaching challenge in the Middle East, lauding him as the greatest of all time.
“The arrival of ‘The GOAT’ as we call him, Cristiano (Ronaldo), arriving in January obviously (was) a huge signing,” the former Liverpool midfielder said in an interview with the Saudi Pro League via GOAL.
????Steven Gerrard:
— CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) November 18, 2023
“I think when the GOAT, as we call him, arrived in January, it was a huge deal, and he still has a lot to offer in football. After the arrival of Cristiano the popularity of the league increased & all the big players moved to Saudi.”
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