"The Saudis Are Ruining Football!"

 

By Iyanu

The world of football has witnessed a tumultuous period in recent months, with the just-concluded 2023 Summer transfer window emerging as one of the most eventful stretches in the sport's history.

The ripple effect began when the iconic Cristiano Don Santos Alvero Ronaldo, hailed by many as the greatest footballer of all time, left the prestigious English club Manchester United amid a swirl of controversy. His surprising move to Al Nassr FC in the Saudi Arabia Pro League, a competition of notably lower quality compared to the European leagues, sent shockwaves across the globe.

But Ronaldo's transfer was just the tip of the iceberg, as the Saudi Pro League quickly became the focal point of an exodus from European football's big leagues. Prominent players like Benzema, Koulibaly, Sadio Mane, and Neymar Jr. followed suit, making the big yet regressive leap to Saudi Arabia.

This mass migration of top-tier talent to the Saudi Pro League has stirred strong emotions among fans, football personalities, and media outlets worldwide. Many believe  that the Saudis are ruining the sport by luring these elite players with astronomical wages, as high as €2m per week!!. Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool player and current Sky Sports pundit, took to his Twitter page (https://twitter.com/@Carra23) to rant, saying , "...Saudi have taken over Golf, the big Boxing fights & now they want to take over football!! This sports washing needs to be stopped!"

Real Madrid's legendary Toni Kroos succinctly summed up his feelings with a single word: "Embarrassing," in response to a transfer news report of a young talented player who moved from Europe to Saudi.

Yet, amidst the outcry against the Saudis, a glaring hypocrisy emerges. The English Premier League, for instance, has outspent the Saudis threefold during the summer transfer window. Curiously, there has been uproar whatsoever and no accusations of the English Premier League "ruining football" with money

This disparity leads to a compelling argument: football players, throughout history, have often prioritized financial gain over their passion and the heritage of the sport.