Cristiano Ronaldo said a few days ago that the Saudi championship could become the “fifth best league in the world” in the next five years. There were those who thought it was exaggerated and a charm maneuver to appreciate football in the country. But the truth is that the names of major players in world football on the way – Benzema is next – or are meant to suggest that CR7’s view is not a utopia. This at a time when Messi is also tempted with a millionaire proposal.
Ronaldo, who plays for Al Nassr, is the Saudi league’s biggest ambassador for now. But lately the names have been following each other. Karim Benzema, 35, French striker who won the Ballon d’Or last year and has been a big figure for Real Madrid in recent years, said goodbye to the merengue club yesterday. And his fate is set – for the next three seasons he will be a reinforcement of Al Ittihad, a club that recently won the Saudi championship and is coached by Portugal’s Nuno Espírito Santo. A millionaire contract of 200 million euros/year awaits him.
The icing on the cake would be Lionel Messi. The Argentine, 35 years old, terminates his contract with PSG, is released and evaluates proposals. One of them is clearly from Saudi Arabia. In this case, the interested club is Al Hilal, who have already come forward with a proposal of the order of 400 million euros per year for a two-year contract. But it is not yet clear whether the South American can go to those stops, as Barcelona are doing everything they can to ensure his return.
In early May, coinciding with Messi’s trip to Saudi Arabia related to commercial commitments, a source revealed to the French press agency that Messi was a “done deal” and that the Argentine had an “exceptional” contract awaiting him for details.
But the rain of stars meant in Arabia does not end there. According to what was reported yesterday, Saudi emissaries have traveled to London to present Chelsea with a proposal to French midfielder N’Golo Kanté, aged 32. The likely destinations are Nuno’s Al Ittihad or Ronaldo’s Al Nassr.
French newspaper L’Équipe reported that there is a list of at least 10 major world football stars wanted in that championship. Business-savvy source to the French sports daily.
The list includes several famous names in world football. Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, from Barcelona, (the former has already announced his departure from Barça), Luka Modric, from Real Madrid, Spaniard Sergio Ramos (also leaving PSG), Brazilian Roberto Firmino (ending contract with Liverpool and leaving), goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, from Tottenham, and even former Benfica player Di María, who is at the end of his contract and has already announced that he will leave Juventus.
But there’s more. Also yesterday there was news about an official proposal from Al Fateh by Chilean international Alexis Sánchez, from Marseille. And Gabonese Aubameyang, Chelsea striker and Barcelona target, is in the crosshairs of the Saudis of Al Ahly and Al Shabab.
Sport to clean image
“The infrastructure, I think they need to improve a bit. Even the referees, the VAR system… They should be a bit faster, some little thing that needs to improve. But, in my opinion, if they continue to do what they want to do in the next five years, I think the Saudi league can make it to the top 5 in the world,” CR7 recently predicted in an interview, announcing to stay with Al Nassr, the club with which he has a contract has until 2025, for a total amount of 500 million euros.
Saudi Arabia, under the impetus of Crown Prince Mohammed Ben Salmane, wants to improve its image at the international level, especially with regard to human rights violations, and attract tourists and investors through sport.
The world’s largest crude oil exporter is looking to diversify its economy and has already spent hundreds of millions on sports contracts, including the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo. The capital Riyadh also invested in the organization of the Dakar Rally, a Formula 1 Grand Prix and the launch of a golf circuit (LIV Golf Tour) to compete with the Americans and Europeans.
Because of all this investment, Saudi Arabia has been accused of trying to “wash” its history of human rights abuses by sport. And one of the next goals is to try to guarantee the organization of the 2030 World Cup (it was even said that Ronaldo could be one of the promotion faces), for which Portugal has already submitted a joint candidacy with Spain and Morocco.
One thing is certain: until August, the month in which the Saudi championship begins, it will be possible to see several world football stars compete with Cristiano Ronaldo. Or even colleagues of the Portuguese, as is the case with Wilfried Zaha, from Crystal Palace.
Source: DN
