Outspoken TV host Piers Morgan has staunchly defended Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo after his shock transfer to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr.
Ronaldo, who is under contract with Al Nassr until 2025, sat down with Morgan for a bombshell interview on TalkTV last November ahead of his exit from Old Trafford.
The Al Nassr superstar ruthlessly criticised the Glazer family, United manager Erik ten Hag and even his former teammates, including Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney.
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United agreed to terminate Ronaldo’s contract and the five-time Ballon d’Or winner completed a sensational free transfer move to Al Nassr after the World Cup in Qatar.
Ronaldo received a spine-tinging reception from Al Nassr fans at Mrsool Park after he flew to Saudi Arabia and completed his medical with the club.
The 37-year-old Portuguese forward will earn a mammoth £177m per year at Al Nassr, with Ronaldo claiming he had received transfer offers from around the world.
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Ronaldo faced stinging criticism for downgrading from Premier League football to the Saudi Pro League, not to mention his previous claims about a big-money move coming back to haunt him.
Morgan, who has hailed Ronaldo as the GOAT ahead of Lionel Messi, hit back at critics of the former Juventus and Real Madrid star on social media.
The TalkTV host pointed to Ronaldo signing the “biggest transfer deal in football history” and becoming the “world’s highest-paid athlete at the age of 38.”
Morgan also aimed a swipe at Paris Saint-Germain forward Messi by referring back to Saudi Arabia’s sensational upset against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.
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Posting on Twitter, the former Good Morning Britain co-host wrote: “Last time I checked, [Cristiano Ronaldo] had just signed the biggest transfer deal in football history to become the world’s highest-paid athlete at the age of 38, playing in the only country to beat World Champions Argentina in the World Cup.
“That’s my kinda ‘finished.’”
Morgan, unsurprisingly, was brutally mocked for trying to defend Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr and fans called him out for “clutching at straws.”
One fan posted in response to the tweet: “There we have it, the world ‘clutching at straws’ champion 2023 is already in the bag.
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“Proper clutching at straws, pal. Give it up,” another added.
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While a third Twitter user wrote: “Yes, that’s definitely finished.”
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A fourth said: “You have no shame, man.”
And a fifth commented: “Absolutely pathetic analysis.”
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Pro League, Football