Former Chelsea and French striker Loic Remy have placed emphasis on debate over Cristiano Ronaldo’s controversial comments, claiming that France’s top flights “deserve more respect.” Remy, who previously played for Marseille and Lille, opposed Ronaldo’s claim that Saudi Arabia is better than League One.
The former striker claimed that the quality of French football has improved significantly over the years. Here’s what he said to Plejmo.com (via goal):
“I admire Cristiano Ronaldo as a man and for his career, but I think the French league deserves more respect. When I left France and returned four years later, I thought it was I was shocked at how much improved it has been. Now, it’s even more technically and tactically quality, and we can see that in some of the results the French team has made in the Champions League.”
The former Premier League star has admitted that Saudi Arabia’s topside has been strengthened in recent years, but is unconvinced about the overall quality of the league. He added:
“I’ve never played there so I can’t say much about the Saudi Arabia, but the top two or three teams might compete in France, not in the other teams.”
What did Cristiano Ronaldo say about League One?
Cristiano Ronaldo caused controversy with the Globe Football Awards when he dismissed League One’s competitiveness in December 2024 and claimed that the Saudian professional league was superior.
“Of course, the Saudi Arabian Pro League is better than League One because I’m playing here. I don’t care what people think about it. Players come here and see it right away Let. sprints of 38, 39, 40 degrees… if you don’t believe me,’ he said.
He also swiped through Paris Saint-Germain’s advantage in France, claiming that other clubs could not compete with their financial strength.
“In France, they only have PSG and everyone else is finished. No one can beat them because they have the most money and the best players,” the Portuguese said. I added.
Ronaldo’s remarks didn’t go well with some of the numbers linked to League One, which have questioned his stance, pointing to the steady rise of French football on the European stage.
Despite criticism, the Portuguese icon continues to be committed to Saudi football, reportedly extending his record deal with Al Nasr. The 40-year-old continues to pursue a career goal of 1,000 and, despite not playing in Europe, he remains one of the sport’s biggest names.
Edited by Sankalp Srivastava
