The Saudi Pro League as a new Eldorado? After having managed to attract Cristiano Ronaldo last winter, the Saudi first division aspires, this summer, to bring other stars of the football planet evolving in Europe. An ambition that is, certainly, part of the kingdom's strategy to increase the exposure of its championship in order to increase its attractiveness and its chances of obtaining the organization of the 2030 World Cup.
Which players are concerned by these desires?
Many of them make the leaders of Saudi clubs salivate; essentially great players at the "end" of their careers. Lead the field? Lionel Messi, of course. At the end of the contract with Paris SG, "la Pulga" would have been the subject of a "huge" proposal. His departure for the wealthy Gulf country would even be "a done deal," according to a Saudi source who confided in AFP. In Saudi Arabia, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner could reunite with some of his former teammates... or even some of its current partners. Indeed, Sergio Busquets, who will leave FC Barcelona at the end of the season, would be on the shelves of several Saudi Pro League formations. Jordi Alba, under contract with the Catalan club until June 2024, would also be courted in the Arabian Peninsula. Parisians Sergio Ramos and - more surprisingly - Marco Verratti would also arouse covetousness; just like the former member of the Red and Blue, and current player of Juventus Turin, Angel Di Maria. Outside the (widened) circle of Lionel Messi, the names are less numerous. However, on Wednesday The Times revealed that 2018 World Champion Hugo Lloris had also been offered a golden bridge by a Saudi first division club.
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Which clubs are working to recruit European stars?
It was Al-Nassr, with the "surprise" recruitment of Cristiano Ronaldo, who launched hostilities last winter. The team, then led by Rudi Garcia, hoped to go even further since it was interested in other stars of the round ball, such as Sergio Busquets or Eden Hazard. Now, it is Al-Hilal, the rival club, that appears the most active. Indeed, as a "reaction" to the arrival of CR7 in the Yellow and Blue, the Blue and White intend to bring his "rival"... Lionel Messi. And to convince him, they intend to surround him with several of his relatives. It is they, thus, who are at the origin of most of the Saudi lusts concerning players at the end of the cycle in Europe: Sergio Busquets - who is also followed by Al-Nassr and Al-Shabab -, Jordi Alba, Sergio Ramos, Marco Verratti and Angel Di Maria. On the other hand, the name of the club interested in Hugo Lloris has, for the moment, not filtered. If other big names in football were to be added to that of Cristiano Ronaldo, there is no doubt that other Saudi clubs could take advantage of it to secure the services of former European glories.
What are the means of Saudi clubs?
It is difficult to estimate the means of Saudi clubs. One thing is certain, they are colossal, not to say excessive. Cristiano Ronaldo's contract in Saudi Arabia would be €400 million, which is a record in the world of football. But he could soon be beaten. Indeed, the proposal made to Lionel Messi would be much more important. We are talking about an amount that would exceed half a billion euros. More precisely, it is "a two-year contract (plus an optional one) for an amount of € 500 million per year, or 2.5 times the salary of Cristiano Ronaldo, to which would be added many benefits in kind, which would bring the envelope to € 600 million, with clauses allowing him to leave when he wishes" that would wait for "the Pulga", according to a source close to the case cited by AFP. Pharaonic, quite simply. Hugo Lloris, who is not to be complained financially since he receives nearly 115,000 € per week at Tottenham, would have been offered to triple his salary. In other words, it is difficult for other championships to compete with the financial power of Saudi Pro League formations. But will the money be enough to attract some of the biggest players of recent year, if not history? Response in the coming weeks.