When Al-Nassr signed Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese megastar, one of the best to ever do it, the limelight very much turned to the Saudi Pro League. Most football fans had never even heard of the club and wondered with some amusement why CR7 would ever leave Europe for this so-called ‘Mickey Mouse’ league.
The contours of the Saudi Pro League are starting to become more obvious, however, with Al-Nassr leading the charge. It’s clear that Ronaldo’s arrival wasn’t just a single publicity exercise, but part of a wider strategy to cement the league’s standing in world football. In just a few months, the club has single-handedly driven European clubs to reach for the panic button.
RONALDO, THE BECKHAM OF THE SAUDI PRO LEAGUE?
Beckham changed MLS; he’s even changing it now with the signing of Lionel Messi for Inter Miami. His arrival in 2007 was a new dawn for a struggling league, his allure drawing the interest of the press, fans, and other big-name players.
Ronaldo’s arrival in Saudi Arabia as compared to Becks, but most didn’t take it seriously (as most did when Beckham left Real Madrid). The United States was a small league, sure, but a platform for growth seemed at least possible. We’re seeing the results of that today. But the Saudi Pro League?
When Ronaldo was unveiled as a new Al-Nassr player, his press conference seemed even more calculated and fake than the standard fare. He felt his work in Europe was done. He was looking to take on a new challenge, and his focus was to promote football in Saudi Arabia.
Money didn’t come into the discussion, despite his contract being worth over 200 million euros per year. You’d be silly to 100% believe Ronaldo’s words, because it’s also so very clearly about the money. If you want to feel a little down, check the running totals of CR7’s salary; at the time of writing, the tally sits at just over $120 million.
And after his first couple of matches, it did seem that Cristiano had left Europe for a slightly depressing retirement home. His performances were mixed, he cut a frustrating figure on the pitch, and he even ‘stole’ a penalty from a teammate.
Cue the laughter from all of his (many!) critics.
THE SIGNING OF BIG-NAME PLAYERS
Just a few months later, the laughter has very much died down. Most thought the Saudi Pro League would become yet another flash-in-the-pan retirement venue for fading stars, not worried that it would threaten European hegemony.
Even the biggest player in football, however, England’s Premier League, is now starting to worry. Pep Guardiola, the mercurial manager at Manchester City, even claims that the Saudi Pro League has ‘completely changed the market’.
The effects on his team are already being felt. Riyad Mahrez, who is still in his prime, was unable to say no to the financial power of Al-Ahli, joining the club for a £30m transfer fee.
He’s not the only player to leave Europe for Saudi Arabia. Al-Nassr is continuing its rampage on the transfer market, with the Athletic reporting that Liverpool legend Sadio Mané is close to signing for the Saudi juggernaut.
Mané has had a disappointing season with Bayern Munich, but he’s still one of the top players in Europe. And he’s only just turned 31, so he has plenty of top-level years ahead of him. This is not a guy looking to wind down his career.
AL-NASSR’S IMPRESSIVE SQUAD BUILDING
Al-Nassr is paving the way for a strategic squad-building process. Cristiano Ronaldo was the Hollywood signing, but the Saudi Pro League wants more than just a couple of star players. The club is leading the way, building a well-rounded rosterconsisting of both local players and signings from other big leagues.
Al-Nassr’s squad is starting to look quite tidy indeed, further signing Seko Fofana from Lens, Marcelo Brozovic from Inter Milan, and Alex Telles from Manchester United. The squad is starting to take shape and is probably just a few additions away from being a legitimate contender on a global stage.
The other transfer rumors swirling around would make any amateur Football Manager aficionado salivate, with Al-Nassr linked to players like Marquinhos (PSG), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), and Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea).
What’s interesting about these players is not that they are big stars, of course, they all are, but that they’re still top-notch performers. Most European clubs have been reluctant to let them go, yet the financial firepower and coherent plan for a competitive league have made it far too tantalizing for players.
Al-Nassr’s signing of Cristiano Ronaldo has had a landmark impact on Middle Eastern football. Before his arrival, the league wasn’t even a laughing stock because barely anyone had heard of it.
In 2023, however, Al-Nassr is essentially one of the biggest clubs in the world. They have the cash, the players, and now seemingly the plan for a proper league. Can the Premier League et al withstand the barrage?
