The Saudi Professional League was reworked when Cristiano Ronaldo moved to the nation after the 2022 World Cup, however the Portuguese legend is now approaching the top of his present contract at Al Nassr.
Ronaldo signed a two-and-a-half-year deal when he joined the Riyadh membership, however that contract is ready to run out this summer time, not lengthy after the striker turns 40.
Regardless of his age although, the previous Manchester United and Actual Madrid star remains to be aiming to play on till at the least the 2026 World Cup.
Professional League’s CEO has his say
Ronaldo has scored greater than 50 Saudi Professional League targets since he moved to the nation – the league’s present abroad TV rights agreements additionally expire on the finish of this season, and the continued presence of the league’s largest star would have monetary worth when these rights are renegotiated.
Along with Al Hilal, Al Ittihad and Al Ahli, Ronaldo’s membership Al Nassr are owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund, which has helped present the money to lure many large stars to the league over the previous two years.
FFT not too long ago attended an occasion at which Saudi Professional League CEO Omar Mugharbel spoke to a choose group of media, and he insisted {that a} resolution to increase Ronaldo’s contract should first be made by the participant and his membership. There have been studies that talks have already began.
“It’s no secret that Ronaldo has created a large affect on the league, each domestically and internationally,” Mugharbel mentioned. “It creates a number of worth and continues to take action.
“Nonetheless all discussions across the period, the contract and re-signing is a matter between Ronaldo and the membership to agree on whether or not that’s one thing that’s going to occur or not.”
Neymar is in the same state of affairs, with the Brazilian’s contract additionally on account of expire this summer time.
The 32-year-old joined Al Hilal final summer time however has missed many of the intervening interval with an ACL damage, and has been linked with a transfer to affix former Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, though not too long ago insisted he’s content material in Saudi Arabia.
“I’m very pleased, my household may be very pleased,” Neymar mentioned. “Immediately, I’ve been residing right here for over a yr, so I am already settled. In all places I am going, I’m very effectively acquired. It’s overwhelming.”
Requested whether or not the league may assist to steer Neymar to signal a brand new deal, Mugharbel defined the method over a participant’s contract.
“Like Ronaldo, it’s a dialogue between the membership and the participant on how they view their future,” he mentioned.
“Having Neymar within the league, despite the fact that he hasn’t been enjoying, he has a large following globally and he’s fairly lively from a neighborhood perspective, so it creates a number of worth for the league.
“However what the long run holds, that’s one thing the participant and the membership have to debate. We play a facilitating job, however the membership must be on the forefront of the decision-making.
“There are undoubtedly discussions that occur, nevertheless it begins by the membership and the participant saying ‘We would like this to occur’. That’s 90 per cent of the entire course of.”
The chase for Salah and Messi
The league stay concerned with attracting additional large stars to the nation – Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been amongst these linked with a transfer, along with his Anfield contract on account of expire on the finish of the season.
If they may lure him to Saudi Arabia, Salah would deliver not solely his expertise, but in addition a large Egyptian fanbase, which might massively enhance the worth of Professional League TV rights within the North African nation.
“Soccer comes first, so relying on a membership’s wants and appetites to signal a selected participant, that can mandate what signings occur,” Mugharbel mentioned.
“Clearly there’s a business affect of sure gamers coming to the league, nevertheless it’s about soccer and creating that product, then the secondary worth comes from a business perspective.”
Lionel Messi was courted by the Saudi Professional League earlier than transferring to Miami in 2023.
“In soccer it’s all concerning the settlement of various companions – the membership, the gamers – and it’s very regular that some gamers settle for gives, others reject them,” Mugharbel mentioned. “The membership and the participant will all the time do what’s greatest for them.”
May there be one other try to lure the Argentine earlier than he retires?
“The extent of curiosity from gamers has elevated dramatically,” he mentioned. “Saudi Arabia in the present day is a viable profession selection for a lot of stars, we proceed to see gamers coming into the league.
“We’ve seen curiosity from a number of gamers – be it one identify or one other, every little thing is feasible.
“It is a long-term imaginative and prescient of us eager to put money into the sport in Saudi Arabia. It’s not a one-year plan, it’s a multi-year plan, which incorporates the funding taking place in gamers, be it by the league or by the golf equipment as effectively. We’ll proceed to see this.”
There shall be a extra in-depth, all-encompassing report about soccer in Saudi Arabia within the subsequent challenge of FourFourTwo journal.
