Not only has Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo been requested to remain silent, but he has also faced a heavy blow due to the risk of “burying capital” through the construction of a hotel in Paris.
At the end of January, Cristiano Ronaldo clinched a hat-trick of awards, including “Top Scorer of the Year,” “Best Player in the Middle East,” and “Best Player by Fan Vote” at the awards ceremony held in Dubai, UAE. The controversy arose when Ronaldo criticized Ligue 1 – the league in which Lionel Messi had previously played – as being of low quality and less competitive than the Saudi Pro League.
Ronaldo stated, “It must be seen that the Saudi Pro League is not worse than Ligue 1. The French league only has two or three teams of good quality, and I think the Saudi Pro League now has higher competitiveness. Everyone has their own opinion, and this is just mine. I have played in Saudi Arabia for a year, so I know what I’m talking about. I find the Saudi Pro League much better than Ligue 1.” It is worth noting that Ronaldo has played for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League for the past 14 months after joining the club as a free agent. His move to Saudi Arabia, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, sparked a wave of Premier League players joining teams in the Saudi Pro League. Ronaldo has also adapted well to life in Saudi Arabia, both on and off the field.
Ronaldo’s aforementioned comments have stirred controversy and angered many, including former French national team and Chelsea FC defender Frank Leboeuf. The recent World Cup champion of 1998 has criticized Ronaldo, saying, “I am annoyed to hear Cristiano Ronaldo say that the Saudi Pro League is better than Ligue 1. Do you think why Ronaldo chose to make that comment about Ligue 1 instead of the Portuguese league? That’s because Lionel Messi played in Ligue 1. I respect Ronaldo as a player, but it’s best for him to stay quiet! It’s unfair to Ligue 1.” Leboeuf also believes Ronaldo should not be part of the Portuguese national team at EURO 2024. “For me, Portugal is truly one of the contenders for the EURO 2024 championship this summer. I really think they could win EURO 2024 if Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t play.” Additionally, Leboeuf sarcastically remarked about Ronaldo’s seemingly unnecessary need for more money after moving to Saudi Arabia to play.
Not only has Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo been requested to remain silent, but he has also faced a heavy blow due to the risk of burying capital through the construction of a luxury hotel in Paris. The 4-star hotel, which is being constructed on the banks of the River Seine near the Austerlitz station, was originally scheduled to open in 2021 but is now delayed until 2027. Thus, compared to the initial plan, the delay extends to 6 years. Apart from its 210-room scale, the hotel also features a rooftop bar with panoramic views of the French capital.
The aforementioned delay is causing genuine concern and headache for Cristiano Ronaldo. As he is believed to be investing personally, meaning from his own pocket, with an amount of 60 million euros, Ronaldo faces the risk of burying capital here for over half a decade. “The delay is certainly a heavy blow to Ronaldo. Prolonged postponement will undoubtedly hinder the hotel’s ability to attract the attention of foreign tourists as it did during its golden age,” noted one analyst.