Last week was a pretty seismic one for Saudi Arabia and its sporting ambitions.
Having already snapped up Cristiano Ronaldo to play in the Saudi Pro League last year, with Al-Nassr making him the highest paid player of all time with his £177m per year deal, more superstars have headed to the country.
Real Madrid hero Karim Benzema and Chelsea star N’Golo Kante have both inked deals, while Paris Saint-Germain defender Sergio Ramos is in line to make the move. They didn’t land the big fish they wanted in Lionel Messi, who had been slated for arrival at Al-Hilal, but the waves that they have made so far will have pleased the PIF, who last week announced a radical shake up of country’s domestic game.
Saudi Arabia transfer exodus could give Liverpool a big problem
Real Madrid hero Karim Benzema and Chelsea star N’Golo Kante have both inked deals, while Paris Saint-Germain defender Sergio Ramos is in line to make the move. They didn’t land the big fish they wanted in Lionel Messi, who had been slated for arrival at Al-Hilal, but the waves that they have made so far will have pleased the PIF, who last week announced a radical shake up of country’s domestic game.
PIF, the owners of Newcastle United, acquired control of four of the nation’s biggest clubs; Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli. It is a deal that marks the launch of an investment and privatisation project, with the ultimate goal being to privatise clubs that have been historically state funded and make them into clubs that have growth prospects and, crucially, longevity
