The Nigeria international, who spent 12 months on loan at Old Trafford between January 2020 and 2021, has been plying his trade in the Middle East after initially linking up with Al Shabaab and now turning out for Al Hilal.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo has seen a Saudi switch speculated following his release by Premier League heavyweights United, and Ighalo believes the move could prove beneficial for all concerned.
Ighalo told The Athletic about the possibility of Ronaldo joining Saudi Arabia: “You never say it, I want him to do it. I would love him to come to Saudi because he will promote the league and add more fanbase to the league. People who are not already watching will start to engage with the league and They’ll see something that’s missing.”
Ighalo added on the options that the all-time great must weigh: “Cristiano Ronaldo is very ambitious and I think he wants to play in a Champions League team and finish his career well, but you can’t say. He has the decision to make. I wish him all the best in that decision. I give and hope he comes to Saudi Arabia.
Before I came, I thought the league would be a pushover but now, after playing two seasons, I know it is one of the toughest in the region. Al Hilal won the AFC Champions League in 2019 and 2021. The club qualified for the World Cup. The league is growing faster than I expected. Many foreign players, coaches, and federations are supporting it and you can see it reflected in the Saudi team.
Ronaldo is reported to have attractive offers on the table from the Middle East, with the 37-year-old, who is currently on 2022 World Cup duty with Portugal, also linked with teams in England, Italy, Spain, and the United States.