The dead calm in the sense of arrivals, players already announced on the return and public criticism… Six months after spending 817 million euros during the summer transfer window, the Saudi Pro League is already seeing its reputation damaged.
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The first signs of disenchantment are being felt in Saudi Arabia. Half a season after signing for Al-Ettifaq, English midfielder Jordan Henderson left the kingdom to join Ajax Amsterdam on Thursday January 18. By joining the Dutch club, he also confirmed having passed “difficult last six months”, without however criticizing his former team. For his part, Karim Benzema denied on the L’Équipe channel that he wanted to imitate him, which does not prevent the uneasiness from remaining palpable at Al-Ittihad, where the player is criticized and trains on the sidelines.
But the criticism that has most discredited the Saudi Pro League recently came from Aymeric Laporte on January 20. In an interview with the Spanish newspaper A.S.that he has since deniedwe can read about the environment around local clubs: “Many players are not satisfied”, “They take everything lightly”, “They take care of us, but not enough for my liking”. Enough to largely minimize the recent declarations of Cristiano Ronaldo, who had estimated that his adopted championship was “more competitive than Ligue 1”, and wonder about the realization of the Saudi ambition to compete with the best teams in Europe.
“In Europe, they pay you a good salary, but they take better care of you.”
Aymeric Laporte, Al-Nassr playerto A.S.
In December, Michael Emenalo, the director of football of the Saudi Pro League, openly flirted with Lionel Messi on Sky Sports. A sign of Saudi Arabia’s desire to continue its massive investments in football, especially as it is in pole position to organize the 2034 World Cup.
An adaptation more complicated than expected
But, at the moment when the winter transfer window has just drawn the curtain, the observation is clear. “Saudi Arabia is much less active. The winter transfer window is always calmer, but it’s true that we are not in the excitement of last summer. We are moreover on a more movement of players who are there and who wish to return, rather players who wish to go there”, explains player agent Jennifer Mendelewitsch. At mid-season, only two players left Europe to join the Saudi Pro League. In this case the Brazilian defender of OM Renan Lodi (25 years old, who numerically compensates for the long-term absence of Neymar at Al-Hilal) and the Croatian Ivan Rakitic (35 years old, who came to compensate for the departure of Ever Banega from ‘Al-Shabab for Argentina).
Among the criticisms formulated in the interview with Aymeric Laporte are pointed out “a lack of consideration”, requirements far from European standards and an unsatisfactory quality of life. Permanent correspondent in Saudi Arabia from 2005 to 2017, journalist Clarence Rodriguez remembers a country “austere” for people used to life in Europe, where the heat is heavy and the inhabitants are “distrustful”. “I lived there for twelve years and you don’t really get used to it”she remembers.
“It’s a culture shock if you’re not prepared. Westerners live in compounds [des résidences à l’écart de la ville] which are golden prisons for expatriates. You have your big house, your swimming pool, but you live in isolation and you always meet the same people.”, explains the journalist, who worked for franceinfo and Radio France. For her, the life of footballers is there “luxurious but limited”. Beyond a few shopping excursions in air-conditioned shopping centers or in a 4×4 in the desert, activities are quickly restricted.
Not all foreigners are disappointed
Lush Saudi Arabia sold by social media posts is “fake” assures Clarence Rodriguez. “Everything that has been put in place recently is to prepare the country for the post-oil era. Everything is focused on the desire to give the image of an Arabia that has changed completely. But this that we consider to be major reforms are not. We always throw out those who do not agree with [le prince héritier] Mohammed Ben Salman in prison”, she insists. A framework that is not conducive to development on paper.
“In some cases, it’s more the families who are struggling than the players themselves.”
Jennifer Mendelewitsch, players agentat franceinfo: sport
The advisor does not encourage “young players” or those “at the peak of their career” to try the adventure in the Saudi Pro League. Traditionally, the Saudi premier division is not a championship where foreigners linger. Of the 14 French people who have settled in the kingdom, only one has set foot there for at least two full seasons: Bafétimbi Gomis (106 matches between 2018 and 2022).
But the feeling is not the same for all the players playing there. Former Dijon player Julio Tavarès has been playing in the Saudi Pro League for three and a half years. “He is very happy there. Life is quite pleasant”, assures his agent, Yvan Le Mée. Midfielder Alassane N’Diaye, in the Ajaccio squad in Ligue 1 last season, has very good memories of his whirlwind stint with Al-Taawoun in 2017. “I have been trying to find contacts to return there for several years, but it is not easy”confides the one who has been without a club since last summer.
Answer next summer
Six years before the Public Investment Fund (PIF) took 75% of the shares of the four main clubs (Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr) and Saudi football became part of its Vision 2030 intensive investment program, N’Diaye appreciated the presence of “four to five physiotherapists” at the club, the equipment available for recovery and the quality of the pitches on match days. “In terms of follow-up, it was even more extensive than what I was used to”confides the 32-year-old player, accustomed to Ligue 2 games (179 matches on the clock).
It remains that there exists a gap between the expectations of the majority of footballers and those of headliners attracted by the Saudis in recent months. However, the difference for these profiles, experienced with the demands of the Champions League and potentially disappointed, is that they retain a strong and significant rating. “Having played a year in Saudi Arabia will not impact the offers they may have. Those who want to return will find clubs without any problem,” assures Jennifer Mendelewitsch. So, for the agent, “we will see a greater number of players returning next summer.” It would then be a snub for the Saudi Pro League. Especially since the possibility of increasing the quotas of extra-community players from eight to ten per club is still regularly mentioned.