‘It's for money’- Super Eagles star reveals why Ronaldo moved to Saudi

Ighalo says Ronaldo joined Saudi Arabian team for money

‘It's for money’- Super Eagles star reveals why Ronaldo moved to Saudi

Stephen Oladehinde 16:41 - 28.07.2023

Odion Ighalo, Super Eagles star, has claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo only moved to Saudi Arabia for financial gain.

Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr during the January transfer window of last year after leaving Manchester United.

The Portuguese forward was offered a whopping sum of £175 million-a-year at Al-Nassr making him the highest-paid footballer in the world.

Between January 2020 and January 2021, Odion Ighalo played 23 games while on loan at United, during which time he scored five goals.

Ighalo later moved to Saudi Arabia and played for Al-Shabab and Al-Hilal, where he won the league championship.

The striker claims in an interview that Ronaldo just joined Al-Nassr for the money and not out of genuine love for the sport.

Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Al Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Al Nassr

Ighalo speaks on Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr

Ighalo spoke about his move to Saudi Arabia and that Cristiano Ronaldo made the move to the Saudi Pro League because of money during an interview.

Ighalo told OmaSportsTV as reported by Daily Mail, “When you are young, yes, you play for passion. 

“Back then, you don't care about money. But at my age, I am in the final stretch of my career, I don't know if it will be one, two years or when God will tell it to stop.

“I know it won't be more than three years. I've played for passion all my life, now it's for money. 

Former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo
Former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo

“I'm not one of those players who come and say I play for passion. Brother, it's money. At the end of the day, it's money.

“Is Ronaldo still playing out of passion? Ronaldo has earned 100 times more than I have in my entire life and yet he went to Saudi Arabia. Did he do that out of passion? It's for money, bro.”

Ronaldo has scored 14 goals in 19 games since joining Al-Nassr, and he's desperate to help his team win the championship this year after they placed second to Al-Ittihad the previous year.