Rafael Leao, a friend of Cristiano Ronaldo’s for Portugal, has taken a shot at the Saudi Pro League. He says that the UEFA Champions League is more important than the cash-rich Middle Eastern league.
Leao, who is 24 years old, just signed a new deal with AC Milan that will keep him there until 2028. The winger has done well at the San Siro. Since his first game there in the 2019-20 season, he has scored 46 goals and set up 38 others in 169 games across all competitions.
The 24-year-old scored 11 goals and set up 10 others as Milan won Serie A for the first time in 11 years in 2021-22. Leao was just as good last season as he was the year before. He had 15 goals and 10 assists in the league, even though Milan failed to defend their title and came in fourth, 20 points behind the winner Napoli.
After signing a new contract this summer, Leao recently told GQ (as reported by trade expert Fabrizio Romano) that the Champions League is much more important to him than a rich Saudi Pro League deal. Romano sent a tweet:
“Ideas from the Saudi League? I’d rather have the Champions League than a €10m pay. I still haven’t done well enough to be ready for that league. My main goal is to help AC Milan do great things. So, I signed a new contract a few months ago.”
Forbes says that the Portugal attacker will make €6-7 million at Milan, with a starting pay of €5 million. He will be the club’s highest-paid player. The player can only leave the team if they pay €175 million.
Rafael Leao and Cristiano Ronaldo are both from Portugal. How have they done in the UEFA Champions League?
Rafael Leao and Cristiano Ronaldo have different records in the UEFA Champions League, which is the most important tournament in European team football.
Leao has played in 16 games, all for Milan. He has scored two goals and set up six others. His friend Ronaldo, who also plays for Portugal, has scored 140 goals in 183 games for three different teams in the Champions League.
The last time the Al-Nassr player played in the Champions League was in 2021–22. Most of his goals (105) have come for Real Madrid, with whom he won four of his five titles.
In the Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo has set a lot of records. He is the first player to win the game five times and the only one to score for two winning clubs in the final.
Also, his 17 goals in Madrid’s winning ‘La Decima’ season of 2013-14 set a new record for that tournament.
Related Article:
- Cristiano Ronaldo finally says what his famous ‘Siu’ goal celebration means.
- Former Al-Hilal boss Emiliano Diaz told Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo that he is “light years” behind Lionel Messi.
- Erik ten Hag wanted Edinson Cavani out of the team because of what he said about Cristiano Ronaldo.
- “Football’s Great Debate: Messi vs. Ronaldo – The Ultimate Comparison”
