Cristiano Ronaldo Moved To Al Nassr "For Money" Rather Than "Passion", Says Former Saudi Pro League Top Scorer

Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia because of the huge salary offered and not because he was passionate about the project, Odion Ighalo has said.

Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia because of the huge salary offered and not because he was passionate about the project.

That is the opinion of fellow former Manchester United forward Odion Ighalo, who also played his club soccer in the Saudi Pro League last season.

Ronaldo signed for Al Nassr in January, six weeks after his contract with United was terminated by mutual consent following a destructive interview with Piers Morgan.

The 38-year-old is said to be earning more than $200 million per year at his new club, making him the highest paid player in world soccer.

Cristiano Ronaldo, pictured with his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez, is the highest paid player in world soccer :: IMAGO/Power Sport Images/Stringer

Since joining Al Nassr, Ronaldo has frequently spoken of his belief that the Saudi Pro League is on course to become one of the best domestic competitions in the world.

But Ighalo does not believe that Ronaldo joined Al Nassr because he wanted to help revolutionize Saudi soccer.

Ighalo, 34, is convinced that Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia for the same reason that he did - money.

Speaking to OmaSportsTV while showing off his luxurious home, Ighalo said: "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. 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."

Ighalo scored five goals in 22 games for Manchester United during a loan spell from January 2020 to January 2021.

The Nigeria international then moved to Saudi Arabia in February 2021 when he signed for Al-Shabab.

He later joined Al-Hilal in January 2022.

Ighalo won the Saudi Pro League's Golden Boot award in the 2021/22 season when he was the top scorer with 24 goals.

He is currently a free agent after leaving Al-Hilal last month.