The arrival of European football stars has not yet flooded the Saudi Arabian League with fans. However, this did not make the Gulf country give up. They are reported to have prepared further plans. From Cristiano Ronaldo to Neymar, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane are some of the big names who have joined Saudi Arabian Pro League clubs.
Saudi Arabian League clubs have even spent almost 800 million pounds to recruit European stars just this summer. As much as 87 percent of this spending came from just four clubs, namely Al Hilal, Al Ahli, Al Nassr, and Al Ittihad. They are clubs that are under the auspices of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (state investment fund). They are targeting the Saudi Arabian League to be at least in the top 10 world leagues in terms of market prices in the next 10 years.
However, the facts on the ground are not as good as the initial plan. On average, Mundo Deportivo writes that interest in the league is still low. Saudi Arabian League matches only bring 1000-1200 spectators to the stadium.
Saudi Arabian League officials are also said to be dissatisfied with the television audience figures. Several big stars such as Karim Benzema were also accused of not playing wholeheartedly in Saudi Arabia. So, Italian media La Stampa said that Saudi Arabia’s ambitious project would enter its second phase.
It is said that they no longer want to bring in players who are at the end of their careers but players who are at the top of the game. Not only that, Saudi Arabia also reportedly wants to bring in world-class sports directors and top senior club officials.
They even say that around 20 sporting directors have been interviewed in recent weeks, according to a consultant who works for several Saudi Arabian League clubs. Not only that, the same media also reported that Saudi Arabian officials want the best teams in Europe to be able to play against Saudi Arabia’s best teams in a format similar to the Super League. Their target is that all of this can roll out before the 2034 World Cup where they will host.
