Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Saudi Pro League has huge potential, international soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo said on Thursday.

In a short interview published by the Saudi club Al-Nassr, Ronaldo stressed that the Saudi league has amazing players and “it’s very strong and competitive.”

Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr recently in a striking deal in football history, was accorded a grand welcome in the presence of a mammoth gathering of his fans and Al-Nassr officials at Mrsool Park on Tuesday.

“To be here, I feel amazing; it’s an honor and I’m looking forward to start and make people happy and to make myself happy,” Ronaldo said.

“I’m really glad to be here,” he added.

“The most important thing at present is to enjoy, to win for the club and to help develop the country which they deserve,” he said.

He added, “I’m here to be part of the new generation.”

From Tuesday, Ronaldo started training regularly with the rest of the Al-Nassr squad. He, however, has not been officially registered on the club’s players list.

Ronaldo is expected to serve a two-match ban he was given by the England Football Association in November for slapping a phone out of the hand of an Everton fan during a game before his debut with his new team.