‘It stinks!’ – Ronaldo backed amid Al-Nassr transfer criticism as Ferdinand insists ex-Man Utd star deserves a lucrative swansong

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Rio Ferdinand says criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer to Al-Nassr “stinks” despite his “sadness” at the end of his Manchester United career.

Ferdinand supports Ronaldo’s decisionWants Ronaldo to be happyCR7 joined Al-Nassr on a two-year deal

WHAT HAPPENED? After weeks of speculation, Al-Nassr finally confirmed a deal for Ronaldo on Friday as the 37-year-old signed a lucrative two-year contract with the Saudi outfit. Ronaldo reportedly pushed to join a Champions League club after they mutually terminated his contract at United, but instead turned his back on European football altogether. His decision has been widely questioned but Ferdinand believes it is a positive decision for his former team-mate after a disappointing end to his career at Old Trafford.

WHAT THEY SAID: Speaking on Vibe with FIVE, Ferdinand said: “I’m happy for him that he’s finally happy. For any footballer at any level, happiness and being happy in the environment he plays in is one of the most important things. He hasn’t been happy in a while, so I’m glad he’s on the verge of finding that happiness, albeit in a country where few people were expecting him to go. But what a prospect it is, what an adventure it is for him to go to Saudi Arabia to go and play in a brand new league, a competitive league there for that matter.

“I watched people comment and a few pundits saying it was a sad way for him to go out. The only sadness is how it ended at Manchester United. I think looking back, in a few years the hell look back and think it could have been handled differently. But this next chapter, going to Saudi Arabia. How is that a sad way to end your career? I don’t understand how people say that.

THE OVERVIEW: The former USA and England defender was left baffled by the negative comments directed at Ronaldo given the praise some of the Premier League’s other biggest players enjoyed upon leaving the Europe.

Ferdinand added: “It was great to see David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, it was great to see them go to America. What a way to end their careers, to earn a lot of money, to go to a league that’s not as competitive let them go they deserved it they earned the right That’s all I’ve seen in the media But because that’s the Saudi Arabia, it’s sad, it’s a shame.

“Let a man go and live, let a man go and enjoy. It’s a new adventure, he takes his family to experience a new culture. Let them go to the United States and spend a year of swansong and launch You. It stinks did not hear this type of talk. This is out of order. Every other player who went to a less competitive league to end their careers has been told you’ve earned the right. No man on the planet would have deserved the right more than this guy.”

IN THREE PHOTOS:

Al-NasrGettyGetty Images

WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR RONALDO? The five-time Ballon d’Or winner could make his debut for Al-Nassr in their next Saudi Pro League game against Al-Ta’ee on January 5.

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