"Ronaldo has been an inspiration for improving Saudi football"

The last three months have seen reigning Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, Brazilian superstar Neymar, Riyad Mahrez, Fabinho, N'Golo Kante, Sadio Mane, Ruben Neves and Jordan Henderson all leave major European leagues to go to Saudi Arabia.
They have followed Cristiano Ronaldo, who moved at the turn of the year to sign for Al-Nassr. Saudi Pro League director of football Michael Emenalo said in an interview for 'Sky Sports' that the Portuguese star has been the inspiration for many players to join the Saudi league.
"Given his pedigree, it didn't hurt that he had the balls to do this. All these guys know each other, especially at the top of the tree. So, definitely Ronaldo takes some credit of having unlocked a lot of interest in some of his colleagues, yes," he said.
Ronaldo said it's "a privilege to change the culture and game in Saudi Arabia" and hopes it will be a top competition. Elsewhere, Neymar believes the Saudi league might already have overtaken at least one of Europe's major players.
"Football there is the same. The ball is round, there are goalposts, and looking at the names of players who have gone to the Saudi league, I don't know if it might be better than the French league," he claimed.