Several Saudi clubs have managed to get hold of great stars of world football in recent weeksfrom French Karim Benzema to the brazilians Fabinho either Roberto Firminopassing through the Senegalese Sadio Mané or the algerian Riyad Mahrezwho comes from the Manchester City. The clear precedent is six months before: the signing of the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo for him al nassrlast January.
In July, the al hilal would have even offered €300 million ($329 million) to sign the French star kylian mbappebut the star of Paris Saint-Germain he would have even refused to meet with the leaders of that club.
“Saudi Arabia dreams of becoming the English Premier League”Explain simon chadwickProfessor of Sports Economics at the Skema Business School in Paris.
“The press pays attention to it and some football fans wonder in which channel they will be able to follow the Saudi Pro League”he added.
Saudi Arabia’s structural and political change to boost tourism and football
Barely five years after opening its borders to non-Muslim tourists and allowing women to drive, Saudi Arabia he tries to open his conservative society, closed for a long time to influences from abroad.
The world’s largest oil exporter has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to gain prominence in the sport. The signing of Cristiano Ronaldohe Formula 1 Grand Prix in jeddah or the lucrative circuit of Golf LIV Series are some of the examples.
These initiatives are part of the great projects of the crown prince Mohammed Ben Salmanaimed at modernizing the Saudi economy and reducing its dependence on oil.
The kingdom wishes that “the compass of professional football points to the Middle East and the Arab world”according to Moqbel Al Zabninewspaper editor-in-chief Al Riyadiah.
The star’s signature Cristiano Ronaldo in January for the al nassrclub of the capital Riyadhalready attracted the eyes of the whole world towards the hitherto unknown Saudi Pro League.
Saudi Arabia has continued to offer tempting salaries – well above those of Europe– To other football figures, both ‘old glories’ and players in full progression. He, too, has managed to attract coaches to assemble the pieces.
The great reinforcements and figures of the Arab league:
image.png
“I have been working in sports for forty years and I have never seen such a big and ambitious project”said to the BBC the British Peter Huttonwhich is part of the Board of Directors of the Saudi league.
Pep Guardiolathe coach of Manchester Citystated that the Saudi championship “completely changed the market” and predicted that other players will follow this trend.
The 18 clubs of the Saudi Pro League they can have eight foreign footballers eachso the margin is still wide.
The investments made have also been frequently interpreted as part of a strategy to divert attention from the Human Rights situation in the country.
“Most of the headlines focus on the signings of great players in Saudi Arabia and not on the long prison sentences with which activists are punished”declared to the AFP a western diplomat working in Riyadhunder cover of anonymity.
According to the teacher simon chadwickSaudi football still has a long way to go. “We probably have to wait five to 10 years before determining whether there is sustainable change,” esteem.
Source: Ambito
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
