Portuguese football legend, Cristiano Ronaldo has openly discussed the challenges he faced in adapting to the extreme heat and different training schedules in Saudi Arabia. Ronaldo secured a move to Saudi Pro League in the winter transfer window last season after his fallout with Manchester United. This came after an ugly ending with Manchester United when he publicly criticized the club and manager Erik Ten Hag in an interview with Piers Morgan. The English giants terminated his contract as he decided to leave Europe and joined Al Nassr. 
Cristiano Ronaldo in Al Nassr home jersey. Source: Getty The 38-year-old ended his first season at Al Nassr trophyless but he did shine on a few occasions with his supreme performance on the field. Speaking to LiveScore, Cristiano Ronaldo said that the big difference he found in Saudi is the weather but he has now gotten used to the heat. He said; “The biggest difference I have found in Saudi is obviously the heat and adapting schedules to train later in the day when it is cooler. But I have really gotten used to that now. The fans here have been incredible to me, welcoming me, and those that follow me to continue on this amazing journey. 
Cristiano Ronaldo at an Al Nassr match. Source: Getty “Every league and country is different and I am very proud to have experienced three different leagues in Europe (and won titles in them all).” On the Saudi Pro league getting attention around the world, Ronaldo said; “It hasn’t surprised me but it makes me really happy to see people all across the world now watching the Saudi Pro League. I believe the league will continue to develop and many more players from European leagues will come here to play.” After Ronaldo’s massive move, other Saudi teams have been targeting star players from Europe. Karim Benzema recently joined Al Ittihad while Chelsea’s Ngolo Kante is also expected to play in the Saudi Pro League.
He said; “It was three good years with Cristiano, the team was strong and he gave us something extra. The rivalry between him and [Lionel] Messi is deeply felt in Argentina and as a child, of course, I was always on Messi’s side. 
“One time we were on a plane to go play a game, I was at the back and he was sitting further forward. At one point he came to me to talk about football and other things. We used to discuss our lives in general and so I said to him ‘I basically hated you as a kid’. We had some laughs. We’ve always had a good relationship, a good dialogue.” 
The Nigerian footballer converted two penalties to give his club a big win during the match. He scored before the half-time break and just after the hour mark to double his tally. Shortly after scoring his second goal, Ighalo imitated one of Lionel Messi’s most famous celebrations for Argentina as he knelt down and looked towards the heavens with both his arms raised. ⚽️ هدف #الهلال الثاني عن طريق إيغالو عبدالله الغامدي🎙 الهلال 2 × 0 النصر#الهلال_النصر | #SSC pic.twitter.com/f4Wfq5tbgO — شركة الرياضة السعودية SSC (@ssc_sports) April 18, 2023 Before the match started, opposition fans greeted Cristiano Ronaldo with deafening chants of Messi’s name to rile him up. He also got a yellow card during the match. Ighalo will be back in action against Al-Ittihad in the King’s Cup of Champions semi-finals on Sunday, April 23. 
Ronaldo started in Portugal’s European qualifier against Liechtenstein to make his 197th appearance with the national team, breaking a tie with Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa. He led Portugal to a 4-0 triumph against Liechtenstein, scoring a brace. The veteran’s first strike was a penalty, while his second was a ferocious free kick. 38-year-old Ronaldo became Europe’s most-capped player in 2021 after surpassing Sergio Ramos’ mark of 180 appearances with Spain. 
With his 197th international appearance for Portugal Ronaldo leapfrogged Kuwait legend Bader Al-Mutawa (196 caps). Malaysian icon Soh Chin Ann is third on the list with 195 caps, Egyptian Ahmed Hassan (184) on fourth, and Oman great Ahmed Mubarak (183) is fifth. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is also the fifth oldest ever to play for the national team at 38. Only Pepe, Damas, Silvino, and Fonte played for Portugal being older. Ronaldo made his international debut in 2003 and became the first man to score in five World Cups last year before Portugal lost to Morocco in the quarterfinals. 
Al-Nassr’s coach, Rudi Garcia has pointed fingers at Cristiano Ronaldo over the club’s defeat to Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Super Cup. 
The club which signed Ronaldo in a record-breaking deal at the end of December, were defeated 3-1 in the semi-final of the Saudi Super Cup. Shortly after the match was concluded, the French coach was left to bemoan his side’s inability to make the most of their chances in the first-half, and he wasn’t afraid to criticise his new star man for missing a gilt-edged chance, either. Garcia said; 
Cristiano Ronaldo was mocked with chants for his rival Lionel Messi by opposition fans during Al-Nassr’s Saudi Super Cup semi-final defeat to Al-Ittihad on Thursday, January 26. 
Barcelona midfielder and captain Sergio Busquets has reportedly turned down a €20 million (£17.5m) per year offer from Saudi club, Al-Nassr. The Saudi club is seemingly trying to reconstruct its team after signing Cristiano Ronaldo weeks ago. It was also gathered that Al-Nassr has shown an interest in Eden Hazard, Sergio Ramos, and most recently, Keylor Navas. AS reported that 34-year-old Sergio Busquets rejected the offer even with an uncertain future at Barcelona. 
While there’s currently no deal in progress for Busquets whose contract expires this summer, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has been vocal about wanting to keep the veteran midfielder at the club. It is also understood that former Real Madrid and England star David Beckham is interested in bringing Busquets to his MLS club Inter Miami.