Sports

Transfer: Top Players Who Moved To Saudi Arabia This Summer

Published

8 months ago

September 8, 2023

The 2023 summer transfer window in the Saudi Pro League closed on Thursday, with many players moving from top European clubs and leagues to the Middle East.

The signing of Manchester United and Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo could be said to be the statement signing that ‘inspired’ other players to move to Saudi Arabia. Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in January after leaving Manchester United for the second time.

In June, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced it would control 75 percent of four teams in the league: Al Nassr, Al Ahli, Al Ittihad, and Al Hilal, with a non-profit organization controlling 25 percent.

The takeover by the PIF, which owns an 80 percent stake in Newcastle, proved successful, and players like Karim Benzema and Ngolo Kante became the first high-profile players to join the league.

According to reports, Saudi League clubs spent over €850 million on transfers this summer.

Here is a list of some top players who joined the Saudi Pro League (in no particular order).

Neymar Jnr

Neymar became the world’s most expensive footballer when he joined Paris Saint Germain from Barcelona in 2017 for £200 million. After six seasons at the club, Neymar was set for a return to Barcelona, but the deal fell through.

On August 15, Neymar completed a move to Al Hilal from PSG in an £80 million deal and signed a two-year contract.

Karim Benzema

French forward, Karim Benzema was among the high-profile players that joined the league at the start of the transfer window.

Although he initially denied reports linking him with a move away from the Bernabeu, the 35-year-old joined Al Ittihad in June.

“I had a dream in my head—to sign for Madrid and to end up at Madrid, but sometimes there are other opportunities,” Benzema said after his move.

N’golo Kante

N’golo Kante completed a move to Al-Ittihad after he recovered from an injury-laden season with Chelsea. Upon his return to the Blues late into the 2022–2023 season, Kante could not replicate his ‘usually’ superb form and couldn’t help the team from a 12th-place finish in the league. He will reportedly earn around €100 million at the club.

Riyadh Mahrez

Mahrez was part of the Manchester City squad that won the treble last season, including the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.

The Algerian international was also part of the Leicester City side that won the Premier League in 2015. Mahrez joined Al-Ahli for a fee of £30 million and will earn £45 million per year.

Sadio Mane

Sadio Mane endured a disappointing campaign towards the end of his Bayern Munchen stint as he had a rift with the team’s management and was immediately touted to be evicted from the team. Mane opted to accept a deal from Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr and joins veteran Cristiano Ronaldo in the club.

Roberto Firmino

Another former Liverpool striker, Roberto Firmino, joined Al-Ahli for free after being on the bench for a greater part of his last season at the club. Firmino will earn £326,000 per week at Al-Ahli.

Eduardo Mendy

Mendy fell off the pecking order at Chelsea when Graham Potter took over the reins at Stamford Bridge. The Senegalese goalkeeper had to watch from the bench as Kepa Arizzabalaga reclaimed his place between the sticks. Mendy joined Al-Ahli in June.

Jordan Henderson

Jordan Henderson formed a part of the Liverpool exodus that moved to the Saudi League. The former Liverpool captain will play under former Liverpool player, Steven Gerrard at El-Ettiqaf.

Ruben Neves

Neves raised a lot of eyebrows when he moved to the league, rejecting offers from Barcelona and a few English clubs.

The Portuguese completed a €55 million move from Wolverhampton Wanderers to join Al Hilal and will reportedly earn about £300,000 per week at the club.

Kalidou Koulibaly

The Senegalese star was among the first set of players signed by Todd Boehly at Chelsea. After one season at the club, the 30-year-old completed a move to Al Hilal.

Others are Marcelo Brozovic (Al Nassr), Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Al Hilal), Alex Telles (Al Nassr), Moussa Dembele (Al Ettifaq), Aymeric Laporte (Al Nassr), and Georginio Wijnaldum (Al Ettifaq).

Sports

5 Games That Will Decide Who Wins EPL Title

Published

10 hours ago

April 28, 2024

Editor

With the run-in to the English Premier League (EPL) title heating up, Manchester City and Arsenal are having a fierce go at each other, not to forget a Liverpool that cannot be totally ruled out of the race just yet.

Currently leading the pack, Arsenal sit atop the Premier League table with 80 points, closely followed by Manchester City with 79 points and a game in hand. Mikel Arteta’s side has been stellar this season, picking up from where they left off last campaign and ensuring that they don’t repeat the mistakes that saw the League title painfully slip off their hands.

Manchester City, on the other hand, are very familiar with this competition, and the odds are right in their favour to go ahead and do what no team has ever done, that is, win the EPL title four consecutive times.

But to do that, they need an impeccable run of results in their remaining four games in the current campaign, and the title will remain at the Etihad.

For Liverpool, it is almost over after managing to pick up a meagre one point from their last three games to leave them gasping for breath in chase of the top two.

Be that as it may, in less than three weeks, the new champions of England will be known, and that event will most likely be decided by these five upcoming games:

Man United vs Arsenal (12 May)
The biggest game Arsenal have left in the current campaign. On this day, Arsenal will make a trip to Old Trafford for a match that could decide whether or not they end the season trophyless.

Arsenal vs Everton (19 May)
Arsenal faithfuls will hope this day will be the day they get to lift the English Premier League at the Emirates after 20 years should Man City falter in their remaining games, and they get a perfect run-in to close the league. However, it will be delusional for Arsenal to expect an easy game against a rejuvenated Everton side who just survived relegation and would want to end the season on a good note.

Fulham vs Man City (11 May)
Fulham can be a potential banana skin to any team, and you want to avoid them especially when you are chasing a very important trophy. Pep Guardiola, however, has them to worry about and engineer his side to get past for a perfect run to the title.

Tottenham vs Man City (14 May)
The outstanding match that gives Manchester City a subtle edge in the standings. This has every sign to be the ‘final’ of the Premier League season, and Manchester City know they have their work cut out going to a tough ground like the Tottenham Stadium to grind out a win against a team desperately chasing a Champions League ticket.

Man City vs West Ham (19 May)
Like Arsenal vs Everton, Man City could lift their fourth consecutive EPL title should they avoid defeat prior and get a win at the Etihad against West Ham in the final day of the Premier League season.

Sports

Former Manchester United Striker, Carlos Tevez Rushed To Hospital

Published

4 days ago

April 24, 2024

Editor

Former Argentina international Carlos Tevez has been admitted to hospital after suffering chest pains.

The former Manchester United and Manchester City striker reportedly spent the night at a clinic in the upmarket Buenos Aires neighbourhood of San Isidro after seeking medical help.

He was due to undergo more tests today at another nearby hospital.

The club he manages, top-flight Argentinian side Independiente, confirmed his hospital admission overnight as it said the initial results had been ‘satisfactory.’

Local reports have linked the problems to stress. Tevez has yet to make any official comment.

Independente said in an overnight statement on X, formerly Twitter after initially denying the father-of-three had been admitted to the hospital: ‘Our coach, Carlos Tevez, went to the La Trinidad Hospital in San Isidro with chest pain.

‘They carried out the corresponding tests and they were satisfactory.

‘Today he will continue with a series of tests scheduled in advance as part of a general check-up.’

It added in a subsequent message: ‘Carlos Tevez will be hospitalised as a precaution until the corresponding tests are completed.’

It was not immediately clear whether he would be able to attend a club training session scheduled for later today.

The hospital where he is set to undergo further tests has been named the Finochietto Hospital in Buenos Aires.

Tevez is understood to suffer from high blood pressure and regularly undergoes medical checks.

Sports

Two Premier League Stars Arrested In R@pe Probe, Suspended By Cub’

Published

4 days ago

April 24, 2024

Editor

Two Premier League stars who were both arrested in a police rape probe have now reportedly been suspended by their football club.

The two unnamed footballers, both 19, are from the same club and were arrested over the weekend after the alleged victim made a report to police.

One player, 19, was reportedly spoken to by police on suspicion of assault and aiding and abetting a rape at the club stadium before he was formally arrested after leaving the grounds.

He was detained overnight and was later questioned by police under caution.

The other player, who is also 19, was arrested the next day and was later quizzed by officers on suspicion of rape.

He was detained overnight and was later questioned by police under caution.

The other player, who is also 19, was arrested the next day and was later quizzed by officers on suspicion of rape.

Both players have since been released on bail pending further enquiries, police have said.

The alleged rape reportedly took place on Friday night, with the alleged victim contacting police and filing a formal complaint hours later.

The force said: ‘Officers have arrested two men following a report of a rape.

‘A 19-year-old man was arrested on Saturday (20 April) on suspicion of assault and aiding and abetting a rape. A second 19-year-old man was arrested on Sunday (21 April) on suspicion of rape.

‘Both men have since been released on police bail.’

A club spokesman told The Sun yesterday: ‘As the matter is now in the hands of the police, the Football Club will not be making further comment at this stage.’

Police officers arrived at the stadium to speak to the footballer and spoke with him in a private room, a source told the paper.

They said the player left with another person and was arrested that night.

It is not the first time the Premier League has been at the centre of a police investigation over an alleged rape.

Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood, 22, was charged with attempted rape, assault and coercive behaviour in October 2022.

The case against him was subsequently dropped in February 2023 after key witnesses withdrew. Greenwood denied all the allegations against him.

After an internal club investigation, the decision was taken to send Greenwood out on loan to Spanish club Getafe.