Saudi Arabian football clubs, encouraged by their successful signings of Al-Nassr’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Ittihad’s Karim Benzema, are predicted to recruit more football stars.
Sky Reporter and Moderator Florian Plettenberg commented that the Saudi Pro League clubs are preparing to transfer five more high-profile players.
The shortlist reportedly includes Angel Di Maria from Argentina, Spanish defender Sergio Ramos, Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino, Barcelona’s striker Robert Lewandowski, and Real Madrid’s Luka Modric.
Benzema recently made headlines by leaving Real Madrid to join Al-Ittihad, the current league champions of Saudi Arabia. However, this may be just the beginning, as several other players are allegedly considering moving to the Gulf nation.
“Several of Benzema’s teammates knew about Al-Ittihad’s interest for a while. Ronaldo and Benzema are just the stars: Ramos, Di Maria, Lewandowski, Firmino, and Modric are all on Saudi Arabia’s list. Benzema’s transfer was a top priority for Saudi Arabia’s highest bosses,” stated Plettenberg.
Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or recipient, was the first to move to a Riyadh-based club last December. His transfer came after his contract with Manchester United was terminated mid-season.
Plettenberg mentioned that Saudi clubs prefer free transfer deals. Firmino, Di Maria, Ramos, and Modric contracts are set to expire by the end of this month.
In other news, Ramos and Firmino have announced they are leaving Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Liverpool, respectively. Lewandowski is currently under contract with Barcelona until 2026.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that Lionel Messi, the Argentine footballer, has received an offer from Saudi’s Al-Hilal. Messi is exploring options after leaving Paris St Germain.
