Saudi Soccer Championship | Money at the expense of sporting ambitions

First it was Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest players in soccer history. Then it was Karim Benzema, the winner of the Ballon d’Or 2022. And if the next was Kylian Mbappé, the young superstar of international soccer?

The French striker from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) could well join the first two names on this list in the Saudi championship. For us to convince him, however, the stars will have to be aligned and the coffers well stocked. Very well filled.

Mbappé, who will be without a contract at the end of the next campaign, has been left out by the club in the French capital for the preseason. Since the title holder of the goalscoring championship in France in 2022-2023 does not want to extend his contract, the club wants to push him towards the exit door to recover part of the funds invested in him. PSG are certain that an agreement is already in place between Mbappé and Real Madrid for the 2024 season. He would thus see his most precious asset slip away without being able to recover a single penny.

The team offered him two options: spend the last year of his contract in the stands eating hot dogs or find a new home. Note that Mbappé must absolutely give his approval for a transaction to take place. It cannot be exchanged or sold without his agreement.

This is when the Al-Hilal club, owned by the Saudi government, comes into play. The latter is ready to offer 437.25 million CAN to PSG to obtain the services of Mbappé, which would be the most expensive sale in history.

Unsurprisingly, it was an offer the team immediately accepted. But what about Mbappe? The Saudi club must also convince the one who represents the future and the present of French soccer to engage in its uncompetitive championship.

To say that he has loosened the purse strings would be an understatement, since the Al-Hilal club is offering Mbappé to pay him more than 1 billion dollars for the next season. So after just one season in Saudi Arabia, the 24-year-old could afford the San Jose Sharks or seven other NHL teams, according to estimates. Forbes.

It’s an offer that’s so ridiculous that NBA stars LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo joked on social media that they’d accept it in a split second.

Mbappé could then join Real Madrid in 2024, as planned.

That said, it would be the biggest shock wave in European soccer in the past 50 years. All the best players, especially at their peak, have been playing on the Old Continent ever since.

This is exactly the objective of the Saudi championship for eight months. He wants to put an end to the hegemony of European soccer and he goes about it by throwing tens, even hundreds of millions of dollars here and there.

If Mbappé were to take this big leap, it would give credibility and notoriety to the Saudi championship. Two things he desperately needs.

Fading stars, new rich and lack of parity

MLS supporters will see some similarity there, but the Saudis’ plan was first to acquire well-known names like Ronaldo, Benzema or N’Golo Kanté. In short, players whose best days are behind them.

However, it is what follows that is interesting. They then targeted players in the prime of life who could have continued their adventure in Europe in the best clubs. Some, like Sergej Milinković-Savić, Rúben Neves and Marcelo Brocović, joined the circuit, also with exorbitant salaries.

The most concrete example remains Seko Fofana. Last year, the Ivorian led RC Lens to second place in the French league as captain, a real tour de force for this club with respectable means. The team will take part in the Champions League for the first time in more than 20 years, but where will their captain be for this historic campaign? In the Middle East, to line their pockets.

It is definitely a paradigm shift in European soccer.

China certainly tried it a few years ago, but the effect was short-lived – in particular due to payrolls that never arrived – and above all, never so powerful. This time, it’s a dozen players who trade big ambitions for big salaries.

The Saudi government, owner of the four biggest clubs on the circuit, certainly gives a showcase to its championship. However, if we look a little further, in addition to the presidential teams, it is not very jojo. The other 14 clubs have a workforce that is worth less than that of CF Montreal.

No one will dangle any sporting ambitions for the players who will join the circuit. However, their bank accounts will be able to prosper like never before.