He's desperate — Man United legend reveals why Ronaldo keeps losing finals in Saudi

Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke analysed Cristiano Ronaldo’s trophy luck in the Saudi Pro League, criticising the Portugal international’s teammate for being inadequate as a support cast. 

Ronaldo has been with Faris Najd for two and a half years and has failed to win a major trophy, missing out on three league titles to Al Hilal and Al Itihad. 

This has been a major source of criticism for the former Manchester United player and was thought to be a reason he would leave the club at the end of last season. However, he penned a fresh two-year deal. 

The retired Trinidadian striker has followed football in the Gulf keenly and believes Ronaldo failing to win a trophy is down to teammates who haven't contributed their fair share. 

“I work on the Saudi League and follow it comprehensively. Cristiano Ronaldo still scores a lot of goals, but his goals are no longer enough, whereas in the past, they were sufficient to win major competitions,” he said, per GOAL.  

“This is certainly true in that league. I don't think his team-mates are contributing as much as he has. He has big names and good players around him to really win the league. But for some reason, Al Hilal are the ones dominating the Saudi League.

“He's struggled with Al-Nassr for a number of years. But as you know, he will go to the very end because he's continued chasing these goals. He was a serial winner in the past, but he hasn't been able to win any major competition there, and that must be eating away at him.”

Ronaldo has come agonisingly close to success with the Faris Najd, losing three finals in his time at the club. They also came second in the league twice and finished third last term. 

“They have come close and had an opportunity to win a major competition, but just haven't been able to get it over the line,” Yorke continued. 

“But, you know, he's got Sadio Mane and those type of guys alongside him, so they really should be closer. But they come unstuck every time they come up against Al Hilal, who dominate the league, and somehow, they haven't been able to overcome them. That's the biggest challenge, and I'm sure he will want to win it.

“He's been given a two-year contract extension, so he's got another two years, including this year, to really try and do something. They're desperate, and he is desperate to win something major because wherever he's been, he's won, hasn't he? So he will not want that to slip without him winning a major cup. 

“I expect them to come closer this season. I really do. With the signings, and they continue to try and add to the squad, I expect them to come very close.”