"A Saudi Pro League (SPL) that had been moving away from signing big-name veterans is tempted by a player who will be 34 just as this season ends. Although players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema have been successes on and off the pitch, albeit incredibly expensive ones, the powers that be don't want the SPL to be regarded as a retirement league in the sun for stars whose powers are waning."
"Is the goal to become a rival to the Premier League, or perhaps to try to take second place behind England's top tier in the marketplace? Or is there a different direction, now the initial wave of excitement and interest has tailed off? China found a decade ago that suddenly signing famous players guarantees short-term headlines but Beijing's boom didn't last long enough to think about what would come next."
"Players such as Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba were back in Europe within months. Yet in Saudi Arabia, despite the headlines of impending doom when Jordan Henderson left early into his Al-Ettifaq stint and Neymar's injury-hit spell at Al-Hilal, the stars have largely stayed. Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez and others are in their third seasons Ronaldo, the face of it all, is in his fourth. Time is ticking for many of these in terms of contracts, and, well, time."
Mohamed Salah scored an injury-time winner for Egypt against Zimbabwe. His potential move to the Saudi Pro League would carry influence beyond individual headlines because he will be 34 at season's end and is the Arab world's biggest-name player. The SPL has shifted away from recruiting aging stars but remains tempted by marquee signings. The league debates whether to become a rival to the Premier League, aim for second place globally, or find a different enduring identity after the initial star-driven boom. Comparisons to China's short-lived spending spree underline risks, while many recent high-profile players have largely remained in Saudi Arabia.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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