Soccer stars succumb in droves to the tempting call of money from the desert.
Yesterday Sadio Mané (31) switched from FC Bayern to Al-Nassr for around 30 million euros. He signed a contract with Cristiano Ronaldo’s (38) club until 2027 and earned around 40 million euros a year. Liverpool star Fabinho (29) goes to Al-Ittihad for €47.6m.
So far this summer, clubs in the largely neglected league have spent €445m on transfers.
Those are the transfer fees. In addition, there are salary contracts with the new stars this year for a total of 2.4 billion euros.
Saudi Arabia is buying Europe’s football leagues empty. BILD answers the most important questions about the attack on billions!
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► Where does the money come from?
Sport is to be promoted as part of the government program 2030. The sports and entertainment industry is just one of 13 fields to invest the billions from oil production. Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al Faisal (40) is responsible for this. This is one of the reasons why four clubs (Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad) receive large-scale support from the sovereign wealth fund.
As the US broadcaster CBS reports, the Saudi Arabian government is to provide the 18 clubs with 19.7 billion euros for transfers by 2030!
► Who are the top players?
Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr) moved to Saudi Arabia in January, signing a contract until 2025 – and earning €500m in that period! The world star triggered an insane hype in the desert state.
Karim Benzema (35/Al-Ittihad) came from Real Madrid, collects 100 million euros per season.
Younger stars are now also flocking to the desert: Malcom (26/Zenit St. Petersburg; 60 million euros) and Ruben Neves (26/Wolverhampton Wanderers; 55 million euros).
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► Who are the most famous coaches?
Even young, talented trainers accept the financially lucrative offers.
Last example: Matthias Jaissle (35/Al-Ahli). The highly regarded German coaching talent worked for Salzburg for two years, became champion twice and won the double in 2021/22
According to BILD information, he earned between seven and 10 million euros a year at Al-Ahli. His motive (besides all the money): he wants to train ready-made players.
Other well-known coaches: Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard (43/Al-Ettifaq), Nuno Espirito Santo (49/Al-Ittihad, formerly Tottenham, among others) and ex-KSC professional Slaven Bilic (54/Al-Fateh).
► Will Saudi Arabia become more dangerous than China?
YES! From 2015 to 2020, the Chinese mainly bought veterans (including Kölns Modeste). The bubble burst in 2020 after the league capped foreign players per team at three.
In the Saudi Pro League, on the other hand, eight legionnaires are allowed per team. Hardly any club has exhausted this upper limit so far.
In the meantime, the madness in the desert has reached down into the amateur field: third division teams from Saudi Arabia are looking for players with job advertisements. Salary: up to 4000 euros and a house.
By the way: district league club Rumbach (Rhineland-Palatinate) benefits from the boom, is sponsored by the Saudi Consul General…
2023-08-01 20:35:02
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