Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema are among the top-level football transfer targets being pursued by Saudi Arabian clubs, according to a source close to the negotiations. The list also includes renowned players such as Luka Modric, Hugo Lloris, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, N’Golo Kante, Angel Di Maria, and Roberto Firmino. Officials from Saudi Arabia have reportedly traveled to Paris and Madrid in an effort to secure deals with Messi and Benzema, with the aim of joining Cristiano Ronaldo in the oil-rich kingdom.
The Saudi Pro League is actively in contact with more than 10 players, many of whom have World Cup or Champions League titles under their belt, to join the league in the upcoming season. The negotiations are at an advanced stage, and the list of potential signings includes the aforementioned players like Messi, Benzema, Ramos, Di Maria, Modric, Lloris, Kante, Firmino, Alba, and Busquets.
According to the source, the players are not only being offered lucrative deals but also the opportunity to play in a highly competitive league. The Saudi authorities are keen to finalize most of the agreements before the start of the new season on August 11. This move comes as Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, continues to invest heavily in sports, including Ronaldo’s signing, Formula One, and the LIV Golf tour. However, these endeavors have drawn criticism, with some accusing the country of using sports to divert attention from its human rights record.
The transfer dealings are being orchestrated by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds globally, rather than individual clubs. If the deals go through, the players will be distributed among five Saudi clubs: Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Shabab, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahly.
A government official from Saudi Arabia revealed that negotiations with world-class players are underway to establish a highly competitive league and raise the standards of Saudi clubs. It is worth noting that all the players listed in the potential signings are prominent figures nearing the end of their careers, with Firmino being the youngest at 31. Except for Lloris, who has a year remaining on his contract with Tottenham Hotspur, all the players are set to become free agents this month.
Sources indicate that Modric, Ramos, Kante, Alba, and Busquets are the closest to reaching agreements. Modric, the influential midfielder from Real Madrid, and Ramos, who is departing Paris Saint-Germain, would join Ronaldo at Al Nassr. Meanwhile, Kante is expected to play for Saudi champions Al Ittihad.
Saudi Arabia, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is actively working to enhance its international image and attract tourism and investment, with sports playing a significant role in this endeavor. Although relatively unknown on the global stage, the Saudi league boasts a strong following within the country, particularly among the younger demographic, as over 51 percent of the population is under 30.
In the upcoming season, the Saudi Pro League will expand to 18 clubs, allowing each team to field eight foreign players per match. Ronaldo, 37, arrived at Al Nassr in January on a two-and-a-half-year deal worth over 400 million euros. He has already confirmed his intention to remain with the club for the next season. Additionally, Saudi state TV recently announced that Benzema, 35, had signed for Al Ittihad, while a source close to the negotiations had previously revealed that Messi’s signing was a “done deal.”
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