Karim Benzema left Real Madrid on a free transfer to play for Al Ittihad football club. Photo courtesy of Al Ittihad FC

Paul Kennedy

Steven Gerrard had his head turned. Karim Benzema said yes. And, if you believe what you read online, Neymar is seriously considering it.

What am I talking about? Moving to Saudi Arabia of course, or more specifically, the Saudi Pro League, which seems to be the hottest destination for Europe’s top players as they near the end of their careers.

One final dance, a last hurrah, oh and a paycheck to top all paychecks.

The Saudi Pro League has been bankrolled by the $620 billion Public Investment Fund (PIF). They really have got plenty of money burning huge holes in their already very deep pockets.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the first big name to make the switch, leaving Manchester United for warmer climes at Al Nassr FC, arguably the most successful team in the league.

He scored 14 goals in 16 appearances which, I suppose, goes someway to justifying his reported salary of $220 million a year (plus $110 million signing on fee).

I can’t blame the likes of Ronaldo, and Benzema making these moves. They were both top, top players who have won just about everything there is to win in the game and have nothing whatsoever left to prove.

If someone is going to offer you somewhere in the region of half a million dollars a day to play football, they why not?

Having these two plying their trade in Saudi, and if a few more big names decided to head to the Middle East this summer, then the status of the league will be surely be lifted.

But I do worry how long it will all last.

Back in the early 2010s, it was the Chinese Super League that was throwing buckets full of money to attract big name players as they reached the ends of their careers.

Former Chelsea forwards Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, both gave it a go, and one team, Dalian Professional FC, was even managed for a few seasons by former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez.

Carlos Teves played in China too, and famously described his transfer to Shanghai Shenhua as a "holiday" before ending his short stint and rejoining Boca Juniors in his native Argentina.

But things started to fall apart when the Chinese Football Association announced strict rules that forced clubs to reduce the number of foreign players on the pitch, with only three foreign players allowed to feature in one game while each 18-man squad list would have to contain at least two Chinese players under the age of 23.

This move was designed to give Chinese players more regular football and improve the national team's prospects.

More recently, as many of the clubs were backed by real estate firms, COVID hit them hard, and some of the billionaires who owned clubs withdrew their funding.

Now I’m not saying this will happen in Saudi, but I’d be extremely surprised if, in say ten years time, big name players will be joining the likes of Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr.

So for footballers considering the making the move I say go for it, and enjoy it while it lasts. VNS