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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in January</li><li>Gerrard followed CR7 to Saudi Arabia in the summer</li><li>Pair enjoyed fierce Liverpool-Man Utd rivalry </li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Cristiano Ronaldo labelled 'The GOAT' by ex-Premier League rival Steven Gerrard as Al-Ettifaq boss explains why he followed Al-Nassr superstar to Saudi Arabia

Ronaldo shocked the football world when joining Al-Nassr in January, less than two months after seeing his final contract at Manchester United terminated by mutual consent. A host of top players and managers have since <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/ronaldo-benzema-saudi-pro-league-threat-europe-retirement-league/blt59545284754b7594" target="_blank">followed the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to Saudi Arabia</a>, including Liverpool legend Gerrard, who became Al-Ettifaq's new manager in July.

WHAT HAPPENED?

During Ronaldo's first spell at Old Trafford between 2003 and 2009, he enjoyed a fierce rivalry with Gerrard as United and Liverpool competed at the top end of the Premier League table. The former England international holds no ill-feeling towards the Portuguese striker since hanging up his boots, though, and credits him for inspiring his decision to take up a new coaching challenge in the Middle East.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Gerrard also admitted that he and his staff at Al-Ettifaq consider <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-lionel-messi-goat-debate-chelsea-legend-john-obi-mikel/bltd0d52231a895dedc" target="_blank">Ronaldo to be the greatest player of all time</a>, and suggested the striker wouldn't have moved to Saudi Arabia if he believed he was past his best. “The arrival of ‘The GOAT’ as we call him, Cristiano (Ronaldo), him arriving in January obviously (was) a huge signing,” the former Liverpool midfielder said in an interview with the <a href="https://www.spl.com.sa/en/video/484180/steven-gerrard-interview-part-1" target="_blank">Saudi Pro League</a>. “He still had a lot of football to offer. So, from afar, for six months, I was looking in at Cristiano Ronaldo’s results, at the league, watching some games and watching some highlights. I think from that moment, the league around the world had become a very popular talking point for everyone. After Cristiano’s arrival, even more big-name signings, talents and skill sets were joining the league. At the time it coincided with me being out of the game and looking for my next opportunity, so I was fascinated from afar looking in, and when my agent brought a couple of opportunities in the gulf area at the time, I was fascinated to explore them.“The Ettifaq proposal and opportunity was the most exciting for me because I’ve signed up to a club where the board are very passionate. They understand where the club is at, they understand it’s something that’s going to need building, and it’s going to take time. That’s the reason why I was very interested to analyse this one, because in my job you need time. Especially when a club has finished seventh in the league and so many points behind the top four. That’s not an easy fix; it’s not something you fix in a week, a month, or six months. It’s a project to build on the pitch, which is obviously the priority, but also a lot of things needed to change around it to give the first team the support it needs.”

WHAT STEVEN GERRARD SAID

Gerrard also explained why he worked so hard to bring his former <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/steven-gerrard-jordan-henderson-regretting-saudi-pro-league-moves-al-ettifaq/blt106cb5247639ec72" target="_blank">Liverpool team-mate Jordan Henderson to Al-Ettifaq</a> in the summer window. “I think when you’re the coach, the manager, you want players going into games that can be an extended version of the staff,” he added. “People, who can really help on-pitch coaching; where the team needs to be in terms of distances, to make on-field decisions. Myself and Jordan (Henderson) we have that trust. We played together and he’s a fantastic player still, a fantastic human being. For us, to execute that signing was key and very important and I think a lot of the other signings we made came on the back of Jordan agreeing to come here. I think he wanted to still play, I think that was the key. He was at Liverpool at the time, he’s had a fantastic career, he’s achieved everything at that club, he’s been a fantastic servant to Liverpool Football Club. And when we knew it was a possibility, I wanted to be aggressive and wanted that to be my first signing, because for me it was a no-brainer."

WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT JORDAN HENDERSON?

Gerrard and Henderson have not made quite the impact they would have hoped for at Al-Ettifaq, who are down in seventh in the Pro League table after 13 games, 13 points behind leaders Al-Hilal and nine adrift of Al-Nassr. Gerrard's side will be back in action after the international break against reigning champions Al-Ittihad, while Ronaldo and Al-Nassr are set to face Al-Akhdoud.

WHAT NEXT FOR AL-ETTIFAQ?

Cristiano Ronaldo labelled 'The GOAT' by ex-Premier League rival Steven Gerrard as Al-Ettifaq boss explains why he followed Al-Nassr superstar to Saudi Arabia | Goal.com Ghana

Cristiano Ronaldo has been labelled &quot;The GOAT&quot; by his ex-Premier League rival Steven Gerrard, who has explained why he moved to Al-Ettifaq.

Cristiano Ronaldo labelled &apos;The GOAT&apos; by ex-Premier League rival Steven Gerrard as Al-Ettifaq boss explains why he followed Al-Nassr superstar to Saudi Arabia

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