Story thread · 6 reports / 3 sources

Cristiano Ronaldo may have been right all along as new rival Ollie Watkins delivers Saudi Pro League verdict after bold Premier League comparison

worldsoccertalk.com · 12dShare

The Al-Hilal striker, who left Aston Villa in a $69 million move, made an immediate impression alongside Ronaldo’s rival club Al-Nassr, adding another intriguing chapter to the growing debate over the standard of soccer in Saudi Arabia. Cristiano Ronaldo has spent years insisting that the Saudi Pro League deserves far more respect, and now Ollie Watkins has arrived in the competition with an early experience of his own. The Al-Hilal striker, who left Aston Villa in a $69 million move , made an immediate impression alongside Ronaldo’s rival club Al-Nassr, adding another intriguing chapter to the growing debate over the standard of soccer in Saudi Arabia. Watkins could hardly have asked for a better introduction to his new surroundings. The 30-year-old came off the bench at half-time and scored on his Al-Hilal debut in a 3-0 victory over Al-Ahli , heading home Sultan Mandash’s cross at the back post in the 86th minute. The result also maintained the Blue Waves’ perfect start to the domes

First report: Premier League Team of the Week: Our Best XI — sports.yahoo.com, 15d