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Hypocrisy
Principle versus convenience
Throughout his career, Ronaldo has built a public narrative around dignity, principles, and indifference to statistics. His actual decisions tell a different story.
2015/2016
"I can't see myself in Qatar or Dubai… and Xavi plays in Qatar"
In 2015 he declared he wanted to "finish with dignity" and couldn't picture himself going to "the United States, Qatar or Dubai," associating those leagues with pre-retirement. In 2016 he went further, using that argument to diminish Xavi in the Messi–Ronaldo debate, pointing out that the Spaniard "plays in Qatar" while he was still at Real Madrid.
Seven years later, with no real market among Europe's elite clubs, he signed for Al Nassr - a league equivalent to the one he used as an insult, with the only difference being a much larger cheque.