Ronaldo Leads Premier League Legends into Asian Champions League Showdown

Ronaldo Headlines Former Premier League Stars in Asian Champions League BEIRUT, Lebanon - The highly anticipated Asian Champions League season kicks off Monday with a star-studded lineup featuring former English Premier League stars Cristiano Ronaldo, Ivan Toney, Jesse Lingard, Riyad Mahrez, and Darwin Nunez. The Saudi Pro League clubs, backed by the country's Public Investment Fund, are expected to dominate the tournament once again. Ronaldo, who signed a lucrative contract with Al-Nassr in January 2023, is set to lead his team into battle against some of the continent's top clubs. "Cristiano Ronaldo brings a level of experience and quality that will be difficult for any team to match," said Al-Nassr coach Rudi Garcia. "We're confident that our squad has what it takes to go all the way." The Saudi Pro League has made significant investments in recent years, with Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal also returning to the competition after a strong showing last season. The three clubs provided three of the semifinalists before Al-Ahli won the final in front of 60,000 spectators at Jeddah's King Abdullah Sports City in May. The Asian Champions League has grown in popularity over the years, with the 2022-23 edition attracting a record-breaking audience. The tournament is considered Asia's premier club competition, with teams from across the continent vying for the coveted title. Riyad Mahrez, who played for Manchester City and Leicester City in the Premier League, is set to make his debut for Al-Ahli after joining the Saudi club last month. "I'm excited to be part of this new chapter in my career," said Mahrez. "The level of competition in the Asian Champions League is very high, but I believe we have what it takes to win." Darwin Nunez, who played for Liverpool and Benfica before joining Al-Hilal, is also expected to make a significant impact on the tournament. The Uruguayan striker has already scored several goals in pre-season friendlies. The Asian Champions League season promises to be an exciting one, with some of the world's top players competing against each other. With Ronaldo leading the charge, it will be interesting to see how the Saudi Pro League clubs fare against their opponents from across Asia. By the Numbers: 5 former Premier League stars set to compete in the Asian Champions League 3 Saudi Pro League clubs provided semifinalists last season 60,000 spectators attended the final at Jeddah's King Abdullah Sports City in May 2022-23 edition attracted a record-breaking audience Next Developments: The first match of the Asian Champions League season takes place on Monday, with Al-Nassr facing off against Al-Hilal. The tournament is expected to run until November, with the final taking place at a yet-to-be-announced venue. *Reporting by Aljazeera.*