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• Saudi league can be one of the world's best, claims Ronaldo

  Cristiano Ronaldo is confident the Saudi Pro League can become one of the world's best competitions in the years to come.

  The Portugal captain joined Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr in the aftermath of the 2022 World Cup, with his second spell with Manchester United brought an abrupt end prior to the tournament in Qatar.

  A free agent after the Selecao's quarter-final exit at the hands of Morocco, Ronaldo promptly moved to the Middle East and has quickly settled, scoring nine goals in eight Pro League appearances.

  While widely considered a weaker league than those in Europe, Ronaldo believes those matches have prepared him for Portugal duty and expects the reputation of the Saudi top flight to improve in time.

  "I feel really good," he said ahead of Portugal's Euro 2024 qualifier against Liechtenstein. "That's why I'm here. If I didn't think so, I wouldn't be.

  "I'm in a very competitive league. They should look at the Saudi championship differently.

  "Obviously, it's not like the Premier League, I'd be lying if I said it was, but it's competitive. I'm surprised by the strength. It has good teams, it is balanced, the Arab players are good, the foreigners give quality.

  "Possibly it will be, in five to six years' time, if they continue this plan, the fourth or fifth most competitive league in the world."

  Ronaldo's return to United had not ended well as he fell out with Erik ten Hag and fired shots at the club in a no-holds-barred interview while still contracted at Old Trafford.

  "Sometimes you have to go through a few things to see who's on my side," he said on Wednesday. "At a difficult stage, you see who is on your side.

  "I have no problem saying I've had a bad time in my career, but there's no time for regrets.

  "Life goes on and, doing well or not, it was part of my growth. When we're at the top of the mountain, we often can't see what's down.

  "Now I am more prepared and this learning was important, because I had never been through this as in the last few months. Now I'm a better man."

• Kulusevski unperturbed by Conte comments and still happy to play under Tottenham coach

  Dejan Kulusevski did not take offence to Antonio Conte's criticism of his Tottenham side and is still happy to play under the Spurs coach.

  Conte labelled his players "selfish" after Tottenham drew 3-3 with Southampton, despite leading 3-1 with 15 minutes to go.

  It came just two weeks after Tottenham, who are fourth in the Premier League, exited both the FA Cup and Champions League in the space of a week.

  Conte is widely expected to be sacked, but Kulusevski, when asked if he was offended by the coach's comments, said: "No, because I know what I bring to the team every day.

  "I know that I prepare myself to do as good as I can, and that's why I can always look myself in the mirror.

  “Sometimes I know I don't play good enough, and I can take responsibility for that, but what he said is for him, that's his word.

  “I respect him, and he helped me a lot during my career. So, he's still a very important man in our club and in my work.”

  Spurs midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg suggested Conte needed to be "a little more precise" with his words, but Kulusevski believes the players can have few complaints after a poor run of form.

  "He was very disappointed, as were us players, and we have to accept that," said the winger.

  "We lost all the cups, we went out in Champions League also. So, I know that sometimes we have to be sad and angry, and that's how he took it.

  "Somebody else will take another way; we just have to respect his words.”

  As unlikely as it now seems, Kulusevski was then asked if he would still be happy to play under Conte and replied: "Yeah, absolutely.”

• BREAKING NEWS: Mesut Ozil announces retirement at age of 34 

  Former Arsenal and Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Ozil has announced his retirement from football at the age of 34.

  The former Germany international, who earned 92 caps for his country, also represented Schalke, Werder Bremen, Fenerbahce and Istanbul Basaksehir during his 17-year career.

  Ozil was under contract with Turkish side Basaksehir until the end of the season, but he has called time on his playing career due to a number of injury issues.