Cristiano Ronaldo has leapt to the defence of Joao Felix after the forward came under fire in Portugal for swapping European football for Saudi Arabia.
Felix, 25, joined Al-Nassr from Atletico Madrid this summer in a deal worth £26 million – potentially rising to £43m – after a frustrating few seasons in Europe that included spells at Chelsea and AC Milan.
The Portuguese star endured limited minutes under Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge last year, starting only three Premier League games before heading to Serie A on loan.
Since linking up with Ronaldo in Riyadh, Felix has made an instant impact.
He scored a hat-trick on his debut, registered an assist and has quickly become one of Al-Nassr’s most creative outlets.
Despite that flying start, popular Portuguese podcast Chuveirinho questioned whether the move was right for a player still in his mid-20s.
Their segment appeared to mock Felix for leaving Europe too soon – something that clearly irritated Ronaldo.
Taking to Instagram, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner wrote: “Idiots don’t understand anything about football, yet they still give their opinions."
His cutting post was accompanied by three crying emojis.
The post was later deleted, though Chuveirinho acknowledged the criticism and posted a follow-up message asking if they really “deserve” such a rebuke given their long-standing praise of Ronaldo.
Ronaldo has been an influential figure behind Felix’s decision to join him at Al-Nassr.
Speaking about the transfer, Felix revealed the 40-year-old played a key role in convincing him to make the switch.
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“You can see he’s building something here and doing his part in developing the project,” Felix said.
“He was one of the first to talk to me about coming here, and when he talked to me, I felt a wonderful moment and a beautiful feeling, and that helped convince me.”
Ronaldo has transformed Al-Nassr since his own blockbuster arrival in January 2023 following his high-profile departure from Manchester United.
The former Real Madrid icon has scored an astonishing 95 goals in 109 appearances and recently signed a new two-year contract worth a reported £492m – underlining his commitment to the Saudi project and its growing ambition.
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Cristiano Ronaldo played a key role in convincing Joao Felix to move to Saudi Arabia
|REUTERS
For Felix, the move to the Gulf represents a reset after several stop-start seasons in Europe.
His form will be closely watched by Portugal boss Roberto Martínez, who will be keen to see whether the attacker can maintain his sharpness playing outside Europe’s top five leagues.
Ronaldo’s passionate defence sends a clear message that he believes Saudi Arabia is becoming a serious destination for top players – and that Felix has made the right choice in following him to the Middle East.
In December 2024, Ronaldo insisted that the Saudi Pro League was better than France's premier competition, Ligue 1.
"The Saudi Pro League is better than Ligue 1, of course. I'm not saying that because I play here," he said.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix also play for Portugal together
|REUTERS
"I don't care what people think about it. Players should come here and they will see quickly. Just try to do sprints at 38, 39, 40 degrees...
"Come and you will see. If you don't believe me, come. In France, they only have PSG, everyone else is finished. Nobody can beat them because they have the most money and the best players."