Why Saudi Arabia is Spending Billions on Football?
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- čas přidán 4. 08. 2023
- Saudi Arabia has been making waves in the soccer world, attracting some of the most coveted talents in the game. We've seen the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo make his move to the Middle East at the beginning of 2023, and he's not alone. The Saudi Pro League continues to grow in stature as more players follow Ronaldo from Europe to the Middle East. Welcome to Football Shift! In this video, we will explore why Saudi Arabia is spending millions on soccer stars and why players are choosing Saudi Arabia over staying in Europe.
Recently, Neymar signed for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia. In January, following his exit from Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo made a move to Saudi Arabia. Joining him in the Arabian country was Karim Benzema, who had decided to leave Real Madrid in the summer to join Al Ittihad. Another notable addition to Al Ittihad was N'Golo Kante, the talented player who had achieved success with Chelsea in the Premier League, Champions League, and World Cup. Similarly, 26-year-old Ruben Neves, at the peak of his career, surprised many when he left the Premier League and accepted a staggering $60 million offer from Al Hilal, another Saudi Arabian club. The transfer was particularly shocking as Neves had been heavily linked with prestigious clubs like Barcelona and Manchester United. The recent trend of football stars moving to Saudi Arabia doesn't stop there. Many other big names, including Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, and more, are also set to make their way to the country. European football has long been regarded as the pinnacle of the sport at the club level, largely due to the UEFA Champions League. However, the lure of lucrative financial deals in Saudi Arabia has enticed several players to make the move. With most footballers tend to retire in their late thirties or even earlier due to injuries, maximizing their earnings and improving lifestyles can often become a priority over competing for bigger trophies. Besides the confirmed transfers, there have been astonishing offers made to football superstars like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Luka Modric, Romelu Lukaku, and others, which were ultimately rejected.
Sources:
www.espn.co.uk/football/story...
www.sportingnews.com/us/socce...
www.skysports.com/football/ne...
www.cbssports.com/soccer/news...
www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-658...
khelnow.com/football/2023-06-...
www.cfr.org/in-brief/saudi-ar...
www.thenationalnews.com/gulf-...
#Neymar #AlHilal #SaudiArabia #Ronaldo #Benzema - Sport
1- To develop the league
2- To inspire young talents
3- To boost the country’s image in the media
4- To help market tourism
5- To attract investors
I don't care how many people and money gets put in saudi arabia nobody will ever feel traveling to those countries compared to eruope
@@wingedhussar1453 As a brazilian i agree with you...But now that Neymar is there nothing surprises me anymore...
@@wingedhussar1453 I don’t think you caring matter in their equation
@@wingedhussar1453our world is huge there’s more in the world than europe
0.- To Sportswash the horrible rights record.
saudi's masterplan includes making enough big names to join them until it becomes norm to play there and also legends joining saudi league results in new saudi league players to learn from them and helps grow their football. it's a matter of time when saudi league grows maybe in 2 or 3 year
agree 🙌
But with all these stars in the league, there is no enough room for local players to develop
🤝🇸🇦
@@kimo5509 only the best will developers
No it wont, saudis are lazy people. Without foreign workers the country will collapse
As the Saudi ambassador to Washington said, is the Western media dull or lazy, or does it not want to know the truth? Saudi Arabia has been working on a competitive and strong league since 2013, and there is even a plan to establish new stadiums, and this is all thanks to the passionate fans and the love of the Middle East + North Africa for the Saudi League, which carries a lot of events, history and stories.
@@Sunfyre117 We did not complain about the heat, so your idea of the air conditioner is an idea from your personal perspective, because a person can adapt to temperatures, and the evidence is that the African player comes to Europe and adapts to the low temperature
@@Sunfyre117 The final match between Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal the temperature was 27C
@@FARESAl-MALKI711 There air condition thing in the stadiuns are just "normal thing" that stadiuns have....Shouldnt be a concern at all..
@@Sunfyre117 La Liga is one of the most globally viewed leagues. Only two teams are followed, and they’re Barca and Real Madrid.
So what’s your point?
Sportswashing. Just like the world cup in Qatar.
If you have the resources then why not, most European fans has never been outside of europe so i dont expect them to understand but being african and having travelled the world i totally understand and pray that the saudi league picks up and succeed and hopefully the african league is not too far behind. why do you think america focus on football boxing basket, the money generated from there is insane and its kept in the country! Africa, middle east and asia all contributes massively to european football financial success.
Lies again? Marine Soldier Arabic Text
here before it blows up
😇
Really liking your videos
Imagine if Saudi Arabia starts by NBA players and makes a bigger league than NBA
No one cares about nba outside usa and some other countries though 😂 except some people there and there
@@mathewvanostin7118 I am saying they make a bigger version then NBA and cap
A breath of fresh air
Thank you for not Arab bashing
*Al Nassr FC has such a great team, look who's there now....*
Ronaldo (Portugal) Manchester United
Otavio (Portugal) FC Porto
Talisca (Brazil) Benfica
Telles (Brazil) Manchester United
Mane (Senegal) Liverpool
Brozovic (Croatia) Inter Milan
Laporte (Spain) Manchester City
Fofana (France) Leicester City
Awesome content
Thanks for watching ❤️ Don't forget to like and subscribe!
Current population of Saudi Arabia 37, 082, 690
The fastest growing population of any middle eastern country.
18 million people are immigrants from other countries creating diversity.
97% of the country is Muslim & 3% other religions (Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, etc)
63% of population is under 30 years old ? Wow !
I've heard that Jota who was transferred from Celtic to Al Ittihad is set to depart from the team after a stay of 1 month only. I'm still wondering what can be the reason behind his departure.
Most likely it’s BS but if it’s true is because the coach is not happy with him and the replacement will be Mohammed salah that’s why they are willing to let him go after 1 month
More competition is always a good thing.
meh, you can try to force buy figures but you can't buy the culture and the soul of why Football is so popular in the world.
😂
Money wins always
Few years and all of you will watch Saudi league, and you always will be welcome 🇸🇦 we believe in our vision 2030 and we will be better always INSHALLAH 🤍
Not in your life
@@gabrielqueteimportante8499 Oh you wish
Lollll nah I’m alright for watching football in a desert thanks
Whats wrong with the desert? Its a pretty good place! There are no jealous people crying on youtube comments over other countries development plans hating like a little whiny s***
As an Arab, I wish you all the best Saudis, but personally I will never be interested in Saudi Arabia League or its clubs, maybe only watch videos of goals scored by big names who fell for your money. For me nothing compares to Premier League and European Champions League
Fam it's call Football. U even mention it in your title... 0:02
ronaldo effect fr
They could spend as much money as they want no one watching that league but I do like that Football growing in the Middle East
Come on Saudi 🇸🇦!!! 🔥🔥🔥👏
🌹🫶🙏
MLS needs more star players like Saudi Pro League
they don't have the same financial means, cash rich as they are, they will never be able to compete, pls will die down soon
Club World Cup is about to blow up.
Neymar to Al hilal ❤
Remember Chinese spend billions where did the end same going to happen in Saudi it’s good for retired footballers to make extra cash
Come on Saudi !!! . Because they care more about a good soccer team than people.
Is better to use the money and help the poor snd needy, even 1/100 of the money will do wonders to a lot of people 😢
You help them, saudis free to do whatever they want with thier money
A lot of people are complaining about Saudi, so Europe can spend Billions buying players from around the world but Saudi cant? why?
have people seen what stadiums there are in saudi? majority of teams have 3000-5000 capasity olympic arenas which are in very bad shape, if they just invested all of the ronaldos money they could have 20 teams with high class stadiums but now they have invested only in 4 clubs...
Agree to an extent. However, I think what they are doing is also effective. It will make the league bigger and better, bringing in more money for other clubs.
Stop spreading false informations and look it up first before u talk 👍🏻, there are at least 13 stadiums that hold 20K + with two holding over 65K sure not like the epl with 20 stadiums over 20K but it ain’t that bad and there are 3 stadiums being built now that will be used for the World Cup in Saudi and for sure they will be holding a lot. We are clearly trying to grow foot ball here not because we have to but we want to we love this game and we trying to make everyone enjoy it as well it ain’t perfect but you gotta start somewhere 👍🏻
@@mrshedaldossari7642 sry my bad, there are 15 olympic arenas of those 15 arenas 13 are in bad shape...
we have better stadiums in finnish league and they are actual football stadiums and we suck at football
You know nothing about the masterplan and the strategy,have you read any thing about it? Do know how many club infrastructures and young academies we are building? Do you know how many saudi tv channels covering our league? Do you know any thing about our culture, demography, economy, eduction system or our history in sport? Particularly football in asia and which legend players players play in our league before? If you do not know any thing more than prejudice and what media told you please go and try to find out.believe me you will be shocked how you been manipulated by media and nonsense impression about something you know nothing about it
@@mohammedalhakamei9060 Most of the people here just got hate towards us arabs because of the stereotypes that have been spreading in western media, I honestly thought they will learn to not to believe what they see and actually look it up specially after what have happened to Iraq and the devastation they caused with a lie, or how they controlled them withe covid bs. But like the say goes a donkey will always be a donkey.
Honestly these players aren't making a fuss for moving, and it's the first generation of big players in this league, soon it won't be such a farmer's league
Their approach is wrong, we've seen Anzi Makhachkala with the same approach and right now they are nowhere
The answer is simple: they have the money 💰 to spend! And that money is just a small change to them.
Oh, I forgot one more thing. We don't steal players' money with taxes
Secondly, where did you get the information that 60% of the Saudi population is overweight? We don't eat pork
Saudi's are also making waves in the 🥊 league to
Because they like spending their money on flashy, cool things. It's like buying a new car or yacht
Buying football stars is only going to generate temporary interest
It’s great thier games are awesome, they spent 700m on big names an quality. Where as prem league spent 2.1 billion on lots of good players instead of just a few superstars. I think a team should be restricted to maybe 5 foreign players , this would be better for the national team an would mean you will be just buying real quality players for your team.
Instrad of spending billions on its brother migrating to Europe or preventing them from dying at sea, they spend tgeir money on a game. So much for ISLAM!
Time to update Mitrovic is here 😅
2 problems is the lack of free markets and the historic religious laws that govern the country by a small group of extreme wealth. To them football is a side hobby but for most of the world its a way of life.
Even in Europe they like money too much.. watching a game in Europe need to pay each and everything.. better to have it in S.A to we watch for free
Those are problem to you because your not open minded person
@arabianking9197 thanks for sharing...but it's actually not what you think it appears.... behind the scenes it's actually about control. Saudi Arabia knows it will lose its wealth when the world relies less on oil so they need to find new sources of revenue. They'll try to buyout and create a sport industrial complex...
It's not about open mindedness, it's about the truth
What wouldve made this interesting is if they had at the same time as China
The moment oil prices fall this whole proyect will too. Just like the chinese league a few years earlier when they were spending stupid crazy
Because they care more about a good soccer team than people
🇸🇦
It will led to fifa club World Cup expansion
Which will compete with uefa champions league
On another note Ronaldo is great and the others havea few years left in their careers so I don't belive this league will dominate, I would say either FA or Spanish league will continue to lead the way
first
😇
It’s no mystery , the east is rising all things grow together as the BRICS rise so all there things will , the best go we’re the money is and vast amounts of money is growing in the east .
Don’t be surprised in coming years asian teams will dominate world club cup .
حقوق الانسان هل موجد في اوروبا
سكان اوروبا ذابحهم الفقر الان وحكوماتهم يتبرعون بالمليارات لحرب اوكرانيا وساحبين على شعوبهم. جيدهم بس ينتقدون حقوق الشواذ في الدول الاسلامية لكن متى يفيقون ويشوفون اللي قاعد يصير لهم؟ 🤷🏻♂️
How do you have a channel called Football and call it Soccer?!?!?
Saudi Pro League the best ❤️❤️❤️🇧🇩
It's getting nowhere, there's no football culture and that can't be imported or put into the hearts through money. See PSG, money but no heart. Fiasco 😂
I Guess City grew their own set of fans without money organically? I guess they went from being relegation candidate getting beat by Middlesbrough 8-1 to winning the league in 4 years without needing much money am i right?
2030 fifa wc will be in Saudi Arabia
Mark my words
Buying big players is fine but to nuture football from scratch they need clubs like European clubs where they make football players from allowing them to play from u16 team etc so they need to build those clubs by making u19 club teams so they can identify talents
A question for you: Do you like Saudi Arabia being a top national team and a top league like PL?
Not like favoring to saudi league or something but it's good that football spreads all over the world , football is mainly concentrated in Europe and South America y not Asia and Africa which is leveling up themselves and north America so in that case asian leagues should be benefitted...but simply buying big players and making them to play not gonna bring chnage and passion over football I globe
@@vighneshv4837 What I studies from their vision 2030 is they are working in every sector to develop football. Like they are using money to have a better infrastructure, academies. So I think the future is bright for saudi and football.
@@n-zedorai6613 I dont think thats something i have to like or dislike....Btw England has the best players in the world but that doesnt make them the best national team... They are not even top 5 i think...
@@sasukebyak England is a top tier team no doubt. There is 8-9 top level teams in football who has the capacity to defeat each other with a competition
Seems like they are just trying to show up their neighbor since they got a world cup
To compete in FIFA's version of the champion's league...
No bro not in a soccer..they are focusing on a football ⚽
But not many people will watch the Saudi league no matter what players they sign so it's all irrelevant.
Only a matter of years before the CL makes its way in to the Saudis as well...sad shit
المملكة السعودية متطورة في كرة القدم منذ عشرات السنين و لكن الإعلام الدولي تعمد تقزيم الأمر للمحافضة على الاستقطاب العالمي للدوريات الاوروبية التي هي بالاساس انجلترا و اسبانيا و ايطاليا و فرنسا. كما عمل الإعلام الدولي على اخفاء ان العديد من المسؤولين السعوديين و القطريين و الاماراتيين يمتلكون نوادي كرة قدم اوروبية كبيرة . أوروبا الغربية احتكرت اقوى دوريات كرة القدم بسبب قوة التمويل و الاستثمار من العرب. و العرب المسلمون معروفون بالحنكة التجارية منذ الاف السنين و الان لديهم شباب في اختصاصات و علوم أكاديمية و لديهم تجارب و خبرة كبيرة في كرة القدم مع توفر الامكانيات المالية و إرادة تطوير الوطن و بالتالي اصبح الأمر مخيفا و مهددا لبارونات الفيفا و لبارونات كرة القدم بانجلترا و اسبانيا و ايطاليا و فرنسا و بديهي جدا ان يسعو إلى عرقلة المشروع السعودي الضخم. انا انسان محايد و أرى إن للدوري السعودي سيكون دوري منافس للدوري الانجليزي أصلا و لا تنسو ان المملكة السعودية هي عاصمة المسلمين في العالم فلكم ان تتخيلو قوة الدعم القادمة.
Spending billions in old players.
Is spending billions??? Not even one billion dollars to this day
They bought Cr7 then 🇪🇺 players followed him
Only old players past their prime though
MONEY MONEY MONEY
Any women at Saudi World Cup?
Let’s not forget France league started when they brought Zlatan in no body knew about that league before you have to understand that you don’t build a castle in one day let’s enjoy the game🙏🏻
That's some serious nonsense. French football was well established in Europe with teams such as Olympic Marseilles and Olympic Lyonnaise and players such as Juninho and Ronaldinho way before Zlatan. Stop spreading your nonsense.
@@OezgeSebisteri Ok Buddy so u telling me that the viewership was as much as it was before Zlatan joined!!! After that move so many other players have followed as well, and made the league enjoyable to watch so put ur hate aside and look at the good side of it all.
Did you just start watching football or are you 15?? . “Nobody knew about the French league before Zlatan 😂…”
@@mrshedaldossari7642 The only one hating is u bro. You were saying nobody knew about French football, and that's just nonsense.
@@OezgeSebisteri That’s just facts buddy, they didn’t build the league in a year it took time for it now to be an actual watchable league juninho wasn’t that big of a name he only brought eyes to his games cuz his free kicks R10 literally played 55 games and left u telling me if he stayed at PSG he would’ve brought eyes to the league like he did with Barcelona?
Making futbol the circus that it has been since 20+years
The moment they stop spending money they will fail.
The day that football died
Every time i step on the throttle im paying these guy's salary.
You're welcome.
hahaa nice one
under rated comment
Saudi league isnt going anywhere because of the lack of football fans in their country
Stadiums are mostly empty other than 2 or 3 clubs matches.. It would be better if they change it into arab League and have mstches all over middle east to bring more crowd
They do have football culture AFAIK
they will fail like they failed in building megastructure for tourism
It’s called football
I believe in Saudi Arabia vision , they think forward unlike most African countries.
🙌 🇸🇦
Yup Saudi Arabia pro league in a few years will be big
Bro.. Im pretty sure this "Think forward" you said is all about money...How many african players FRANCE have in there national team... African countries are used by France to benefit France...
@@twenty-2923yeah like MLS lol
In my head these players is just gone. But its nice of them to pay so much for players that is almost ending there cares.
They already bring mannnnyy young players so do not cry
the saudi league makes the european league look like it doesn't exist, only the english league can compete in shopping. luga italy, spain, france, germany like nuts league
Germany it is a self sustainable league and Germany culture ain’t about having big stars from somewhere but their own, now the other leagues are in trouble with the exception of the premier
delusional arab 🤡🤡
When you said soccer world im out
It's football not soccer, there is a bigger world outside America.
So basically everyone going there is basically retiring early 😂😂 I’d rather sit and watch the MLS 😂
The American League is a play and a clear acting that is not real football
no , thats what your desert league is. a empty shell@@fa5002
@@fa5002If MLS is a play for you. then, Saudi league is a joke that will deplete soon
@@fa5002Saudi league is the only scripted league with shawarma and camel players
The value in football is lone gone. Go support your local team, please.
Sportswashing, even under a good goal like diversifying the economy, is still Sportswashing. They will not be getting any of my time or money until there are more equal rights and human rights in the country.
👑1🏆4👑👳🇦🇪🥇🥈🥉
China and Russia tried the same and failed miserably
Imagine being sooooo rich, that you can just part by part buy a culture
Cancer isl
To feature over aged has beens trying to run in 45 degree weather, that league is an absolute travesty
Let’s send Saudi some gay soccer players and maybe these soccer players stand up for women too?
Saudi Arabia is the best place for women! Nobody could catcall or flirt them under strict rules
It's not football it is footmoney
Cry more sweetheart
They literally are ruining our soccer single handedly. I will never watch them because of this.
Boo hoo
Soccer? Are you american?
And its Europe who destroyed football first. They took all South american and african starts in their league. So we can complain too. You are just jealous of Saudi development but all these are for football. You should appreciate for their football passion.
And Europe is never out of talent and never will be. European teams do not want old players. Their target is always youngstars. So europe will never be talentless.
Why Europe spend billions on Football ?????
*Football, not soccer
If big players continue to sign, the Saudia league will be playing in the champions league
Its football not soccer.
It's called football not a soccer 😂
Stopped watching after you said "soccer" world... have no idea what soccer is
Sport washing
i will always enjoy European football more no matter how much money some Arab leader invests on his teams.
Lies again? Serie A Leader Holy Quran
Well.. Arab leaders also invested in European Football
The fact that qatar beat Argentina then the argies won it makes be cold heartedly believe in the corruption and match fixing in football along with the money they spending on the league on the back of that world cup
Qatar? 😂😂😂 get ur facts straight and the game was not fixed but they used vr to make the calls for the referee accurate and saudis won fair and square
@@Yurithe-ud4zlSaudi Arabia did not even advance ajajajajaj 😂😂😂😂😂
a desert region will never have a real football culture. Grass is a rarity there lol, they cant spend this money forever...this league will crumble back to its empty shell
Saudis will eventually out finance UEFA.
Tourism
No one cares about saudi arabia Only people who live there. Everyone is now watching mls. 😂😅
They will flop.
Transiting from oil to football 😂 this is the dumbest analysis i have heart so far, saudi arabia does not need a football league for money they need football as a soft power to boost their image around the world. Saudi money can buy all of Europe leagues if they wanted to. And if they wanted to divert from oil why would they invent something that already exist and can be bought today in Europe ?
The saudi crown are working to open up the county to the world and move away from the stereotype of being a closed backward country.