Xavi: 'Playing in Saudi Arabia is a challenge for Ronaldo'

"Ronaldo signed for one of the best clubs in the Saudi Pro League, but it was a challenge," Xavi said in Saudi Arabia on January 11. "This tournament is very complicated. I played against some of their teams while coaching Al Sadd."

Ronaldo signed a contract until June 2025 with Al Nassr. This is the first time CR7 has played for a club outside of Europe, after 20 years with Sporting Lisbon, Man Utd, Real Madrid and Juventus. Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both hold the club record of 701 goals.

In the Saudi Pro League, the national championship of Saudi Arabia, Al Nassr is the second richest with nine titles. Al Hilal ranked first with a record of 18 titles. Saudi Arabia's teams are also successful in the AFC Champions League. Al Hilal holds the record of winning the title four times.

Al Nassr is leading the Saudi Pro League 2022-2023. They won 29 points after 12 games, three points ahead of Al Shabab. The tournament has 16 participating teams and 30 rounds. Ronaldo can make his debut in the match against Al Ettifaq in round 14, January 22. CR7 is serving a two-match ban for smashing the phone of an Everton fan last season.

Xavi worked as a coach for Al Sadd from 2019 to 2021 in Qatar, the neighboring country of Saudi Arabia. He led Al Sadd to seven domestic titles, but never won the AFC Champions League. In the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League 2019-2020, Al Sadd lost to Al Hilal on the final 5-6. They stopped in the 1/8 round and the next two seasons. Xavi's Al Sadd also had four matches against Al Nassr in the AFC Champions League, winning one, drawing two and losing one.

Xavi returned to Barca as coach from November 2021. In the first season, he brought Barca to second La Liga. The Camp Nou home team is leading after 16 La Liga matches from 2022 to 2023, with three points more than Real, but eliminated in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Barca and Xavi are in Saudi Arabia to attend the Spanish Super Cup. On the evening of January 12, they will play the second semi-final against Betis. In the first semi-final, Real beat Valencia 4-3 on penalties after drawing 1-1 in 120 minutes. The final will take place on January 15.