Eden Hazard has publicly disagreed with Cristiano Ronaldo's stance that the Saudi Pro League is better than one of Europe's top five leagues – here is what he said.
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Speaking at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards in January, the Al Nassr No. 7 caused a stir when he said the Saudi top flight is superior to Ligue 1 in France, a dig many believed he took after Lionel Messi spent two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain.
"I think the Saudi league is not worse than France's league, in my opinion. In France's league, you have two or three teams with a good level, in Saudi now it's more competitive," he was quoted as saying, according to the Daily Star.
"They can say whatever they want. It's just my opinion and I played there one year so I know what I'm talking about. But I think, right now, we are better than France's league."
That take has since been challenged by former Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard, who was effectively signed by the Spanish giants in 2019 to be Ronaldo's long-term successor.
The since-retired Belgium international believes Ligue 1 sides would beat teams from Saudi Arabia.
"If you look at the league in Saudi Arabia, they have big players, it's just that they're not big teams," he said on The Obi One Podcast.
"In France, maybe now they have less big players, but they have big teams.
"I'm sure if a Ligue 1 team played against a Saudi Arabian team, they would win. Maybe not easily, like people might think, but the level in France is good. I'm watching their league and they have talent."
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Hazard made his start to professional football in France's top division with Lille, whom he represented on 194 occasions before joining Chelsea in 2012.
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