Sports

Saudi Arabia’s lavish recruitment drive rolls on despite Messi miss

Published

2 years ago

June 22, 2023

Lionel Messi

Saudi Arabia’s lavish recruitment drive rolls on despite Messi miss

Missing out on Lionel Messi hasn’t slowed Saudi Arabia’s ambitious recruitment drive as the oil-rich kingdom tries to establish itself as a viable destination for the world’s top players.

Having already lured two of the sport’s biggest stars in Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, the Saudis, amid allegations of sportswashing, are targeting a host of other high-profile players from Europe’s best leagues.

World Cup and Champions League winner N’Golo Kante became the latest stellar player to head to the lucrative Pro League, signing a three-year contract Wednesday to team up with Benzema at Al-Ittihad.

“It is part of the club’s efforts to establish itself as a top choice for world-class players in the Saudi Professional League,” Al-Ittihad said in a statement.

Messi opted for Inter Miami, rather than the Middle East, but the Saudis are pressing on. Premier League stars like Hakim Ziyech, Kalidou Koulibaly and Ruben Neves are expected to follow Kante this summer.

Chelsea had offered Kante a new contract to stay at Stamford Bridge. But just as Real Madrid discovered in the case of world player of the year Benzema, money talks. France midfielder Kante is reportedly set to earn more than $100 million across the length of his contract.

Benzema will reportedly earn $107 million per year over his three-year contract.

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Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in December in a deal reportedly worth up to $200 million a year.

At the time of that stunning move, it was not clear what Saudi’s plan was beyond using Ronaldo’s fame to raise the profile of its league. It has since become evident that the former Madrid and Manchester United forward was just the start of a recruitment drive that the country hopes will turn its league into a major player in the sport.

Currently, the Saudi league is considered well below the standard of the top divisions in Europe and South America.

Ronaldo dismissed criticism of his decision, claiming in January the league is “very competitive.”

“People don’t know that, but I know because I saw many games,” he said. “In Europe my work is done. I won everything and played for the most important clubs in Europe. This is a new challenge.”

It is impossible to ignore the riches on offer as a major motivation to players.

The reported salaries and commercial deals for Ronaldo, Benzema and Kante could earn them a combined figure of nearly $1 billion.

Other countries have embarked on similar projects in the past.

Major League football in America has consistently signed big names like David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and now Messi. Before that, the North American football League — most notably the New York Cosmos — enticed superstars like Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Bobby Moore and George Best.

China went on a similar spree from 2015, signing internationals like Carlos Tevez, Pato and Hulk, but that initiative has fizzled out.

It looks like this is just the start of Saudi’s plans to grow the profile and quality of its league, while expanding its influence in global sport.

The kingdom’s sovereign wealth Public Investment Fund has taken a majority ownership stake in four of the country’s top clubs, including Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr, as part of a nationalization project encouraging public sector organizations to invest in sports. Football teams are seen as a priority under the initiative backed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

PIF is described as a “catalyst of Vision 2030,” which is a wide-ranging plan to overhaul the kingdom’s economy.

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The fund is worth around $700 billion and has already backed the takeover of Premier League club Newcastle and the launch of the contentious LIV Golf tour, which is merging with the PGA tour.

Saudi Arabia has also staged two heavyweight title fights involving Anthony Joshua, hosts Formula One racing and the Italian and Spanish Super Cups. There is also speculation that the country wants to host the 2030 men’s football World Cup.

The focus on sport has led to accusations of sportswashing — an effort to rebrand its public image in the face of its human rights record.

Football is already hugely popular in the country, with a television audience of more than 215 million watching its league in 2021-22, according to official statistics. More than 1.25 million attended matches during that campaign.

The demand for international broadcast rights could grow as a result of more top players joining the league.

While Saudi football should benefit from an influx of talent, Premier League clubs, in particular, look set to cash in.

England’s top-flight teams have found it increasingly difficult to offload unwanted players due to the high salaries they pay. Only a limited number of European clubs can match or better the contracts on offer in England, meaning a number of players have had to be sent out on loan, rather than sold.

Chelsea, which spent around $630 million last season, needs to reduce its squad this summer and it is notable that three of its players — Ziyech, Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy — have all been linked with moves to Saudi in addition to Kante.

Those potential deals have raised questions due to a reported connection between PIF and private investment firm Clearlake Capital, which was part of the consortium that bought Chelsea last year.

“The Premier League should put an instant embargo on transfers to Saudi Arabia to ensure the integrity of the game isn’t being damaged,” football pundit Gary Neville told the BBC. “Checks should be made on the appropriateness of the transactions.”

Chelsea players, however, appear to be a drop in the ocean as far as the scope of Saudi’s ambition and spending power is concerned.

Manchester United’s Alex Telles and Arsenal’s Thomas Partey are the latest names to be added to a list of targets that only looks set to grow.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

Sports

Gabriel Jesus shines as Arsenal thrash Palace 5-1 in London derby

Published

11 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Trends Admin

Gabriel Jesus shines as Arsenal thrash Palace 5-1 in London derby

Gabriel Jesus struck twice as Arsenal became the first side since Chelsea in 2005 to go a full calendar year unbeaten in Premier League London derbies, defeating Crystal Palace 5-1 to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool to three points for the time being.

A hat-trick against Palace in a 3-2 EFL Cup victory on Wednesday earned Jesus a starting berth here, and it took just six minutes for him to reward Mikel Arteta’s selection.

A first Premier League goal since January arrived when Bukayo Saka’s cross bounced off Gabriel Magalhães, allowing Jesus to stride towards the ball and side-foot home. A nervy moment for David Raya went unpunished moments later, but just five minutes after going ahead, the Gunners were pegged back as the red-hot Ismaïla Sarr bent an effort around William Saliba and inside the far post.

A breathless start to the contest continued with a third goal in the opening 15 minutes, and perhaps predictably, it came from an Arsenal corner. This time, Gabriel Martinelli’s delivery was partially cleared, but only as far as Jesus, whose controlled finish flew into the corner.

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Another defensive lapse from the visitors almost saw the scores levelled once more, only for Raya to bail out Saliba with a one-on-one stop to deny Jean-Philippe Mateta. At the other end, Gabriel went close from yet another Arsenal corner before the away side extended their advantage through Kai Havertz, who reacted first after Jesus had nodded onto the far post.

Needing a response, the hosts were inches from reducing the deficit straight after the restart when Raya was equal to Sarr’s diving header. The Arsenal shot-stopper was then called into action again, getting behind Mateta’s rifled long-range shot and catching Sarr’s follow-up header.

Those saves kept the Eagles at bay, and with an hour played, the points were all but wrapped up. A well-worked move should have ended with Jesus’ second hat-trick of the week, yet Henderson saved well with his foot only to see Martinelli turn in substitute Declan Rice’s resultant low strike.

Determined to get on the scoresheet, Rice guided in Arsenal’s fifth goal late on, sealing three vital points in an evening where the only major blemish was Saka’s first-half injury.

Despite conceding in a seventh consecutive away league match – their longest travelling run without a PL clean sheet in over five years – Arsenal now find themselves within touching distance of the league summit, albeit having played more games than the sides above them.

Meanwhile, Palace had lost just one of their last eight PL fixtures (W3, D4), but defeat here means they’re yet to add to their solitary home league victory (D4, L4), leaving the Eagles 15th in the table.

Gabriel Jesus shines as Arsenal thrash Palace 5-1 in London derby

Sports

Atletico grab late winner at Barcelona to go top of La Liga

Published

11 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Trends Admin

Atletico grab late winner at Barcelona to go top of La Liga

Substitute Alexander Sorloth scored an injury-time winner as Atletico Madrid fought back against Barcelona to replace them at the top of La Liga.

Pedri opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 30th minute, linking up with fellow Spain midfielder Gavi before slotting a low strike past Jan Oblak.

Despite their dominance, the hosts couldn’t hold on and Rodrigo De Paul hammered home the equaliser on the hour mark after leaping on a mistake from Marc Casado.

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Barcelona were left to rue more missed chances when Sorloth slammed in Nahuel Molina’s cross in the sixth minute of injury time to give Atletico their 12th straight win in all competitions.

The victory means Atletico will end 2024 as the top team in Spain, three points above Barcelona, who have played a game more.

Hansi Flick’s Barca side could slip to third if Real Madrid beat Sevilla on Sunday.

Atletico grab late winner at Barcelona to go top of La Liga

Sports

Oleksandr Usyk beats Tyson Fury to retain heavyweight titles

Published

11 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Trends Admin

Oleksandr Usyk beats Tyson Fury to retain heavyweight titles

Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury to retain his unified heavyweight world titles and prove his status as a generational great with another close points win in their rematch in Saudi Arabia.

Having inflicted a first career defeat on Briton Fury by split decision in May, Usyk’s astuteness and will to win once again prevailed at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena – and he retained his WBA (Super), WBC and WBO titles.

Fury, 36, found success in the first half of the fight. Some of the more eye-catching shots came from the Morecambe fighter, but the volume of punches and cleaner work were from Ukrainian Usyk.

All three judges scored it 116-112 to the 37-year-old champion.

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Usyk, an Olympic gold medallist and former undisputed cruiserweight champion, extended his undefeated record to 23 pro wins.

“He [Tyson Fury] is a great fighter, he is a great opponent. An unbelievable 24 rounds for my career. Thank you so much,” Usyk said.

Two-time world champion Fury has only ever lost to Usyk, his two defeats the major blemishes on a record also consisting of 34 wins and one draw.

Fury left the ring without conducting an interview, before IBF world champion Daniel Dubois climbed in and called for a rematch with Usyk.

A visibly frustrated figure in the moments after the scorecards were read out, Fury said backstage he was convinced he won the fight by “at least three rounds”.