How Ronaldo’s arrival turned Riyadh into top footballers’ favored destination

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s announcement that Saudi Arabia’s top clubs would be privatized has ushered in a new, golden era for football in the Kingdom, with Riyadh’s clubs leading the way. (AlNassrFC/AlHilalFC)
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s announcement that Saudi Arabia’s top clubs would be privatized has ushered in a new, golden era for football in the Kingdom, with Riyadh’s clubs leading the way. (AlNassrFC/AlHilalFC)
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Updated 23 September 2023
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How Ronaldo’s arrival turned Riyadh into top footballers’ favored destination

How Ronaldo’s arrival turned Riyadh into top footballers’ favored destination
  • Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr and Al-Shabab among Saudi clubs reshaping global football landscape
  • The announcement that top clubs would be privatized ushered in a new, golden era

RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo opened the door and the rest followed.

What was a one-man mission to put the Saudi Pro League on the world map just a few months ago, has become a full-blown revolution.

So much so that when Brazilian superstar Neymar joined Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain in August, it felt more like the apogee of a project rather than the scarcely believable.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s announcement that Saudi Arabia’s top clubs would be privatized has ushered in a new, golden era for football in the Kingdom, with Riyadh’s clubs leading the way.

When Ronaldo was first linked with a move to Al-Nassr, the reports were dismissed as fanciful across the world. On Dec. 31, 2022, the perception of Saudi football changed overnight.

Suddenly, a move to the SPL was not just attractive, but almost irresistible for some of the world’s top players.

Al-Hilal were not going to take lightly losing their Saudi Pro League and AFC Champions League titles last season. A major rebuilding operation has seen Portugal’s Reuben Neves join from Wolves and Serbia’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic arrive from Lazio; two players at the peak of their careers. This put to rest the argument that leagues in the Middle East and GCC were retirement homes for players nearing the end of their careers.

Senegal’s Kalidou Koulibaly from Chelsea, and Brazil’s Malcom from Zenit Saint Petersburg, had already joined the Blues, before Neymar’s landmark announcement was followed by the arrival of Moroccan goalkeeper Yasine Bounou (Sevilla) and Serbian forward Alexander Mitrovic (Fulham).

At Al-Nassr, the club that started the deluge of foreign imports, Sadio Mane (Senegal) from Bayern Munich, Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia) from Inter Milan, Seko Fofana (Ivory Coast) from RC Lens, and Alex Telles (Brazil) from Manchester United, have made the move to Riyadh as bona fide stars and not just Ronaldo’s supporting cast.

The late summer transfer window additions of Spanish international defender Aymeric Laporte from Manchester City, and Portuguese midfielder Otavio from Porto, will only bolster the Yellows’ bid to become champions this season.

Rounding up Riyadh’s trio of iconic clubs are Al-Shabab which in 2022-2023 finished fourth in the SPL and for long periods of the season were seen as genuine title contenders.

Belgium’s Yannick Carrasco joined from Atletico Madrid and will forge a midfield partnership with Ever Banega, the Argentinian who has already enjoyed a fine career with Shabab since 2020.

Meanwhile Colombian midfielder Gustavo Cuellar has made the move across to Riyadh after spending four trophy-laden years at rivals Al-Hilal.

Keeping goal behind this international trio is Kim Seung-gyu of South Korea, who joined Al-Shabab last year.

Last season, when Ronaldo said that within a few years the Saudi Pro League would be ranked in the world’s top five competitions, cynics scoffed at the pronouncement.

It seems his words could become true even quicker than he might have anticipated because global broadcasters are now screening live matches from the SPL on a weekly basis, and international players are increasingly looking to make Riyadh their new home.


Saudi Arabia ready to host 2034 World Cup: Sports minister

Saudi Arabia ready to host 2034 World Cup: Sports minister
Updated 21 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia ready to host 2034 World Cup: Sports minister

Saudi Arabia ready to host 2034 World Cup: Sports minister
  • Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal tells BBC Kingdom has proved itself able to host major events
  • Government has invested over $6.26bn in sports since 2021 as part of Vision 2030

LONDON: Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal has talked up the sporting and economic opportunities of the Kingdom hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup, saying his country is ready to host the world’s biggest sporting event.
In an interview with the BBC, he raised the prospect of the Kingdom hosting the competition in the summer rather than the winter, noted the importance of sport in a country where the majority of citizens are below the age of 30, and discussed the progress made by the Saudi Pro League.
The government has invested over £5 billion ($6.26 billion) in sports since 2021 as part of the Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy away from dependence on fossil fuels.
With the FIFA Club World Cup set to begin in the Kingdom next month, Prince Abdulaziz said Saudi Arabia is more than ready to host the biggest prize in football.
“We’ve showcased that — we’ve hosted more than 85 global events and we’ve delivered on the highest level,” he said.
“We want to attract the world through sports. Hopefully, by 2034, people will have an extraordinary World Cup.”
Since 2021, Saudi Arabia has hosted high-profile boxing matches, ATP tennis tournaments and Formula 1 racing.
The Public Investment Fund made waves when taking control of Premier League side Newcastle United and setting up the LIV Golf tour.
“Twenty million of our population are below the age of 30, so we need to get them engaged — we are playing our role to develop sports within the world and to be part of the international community,” Prince Abdulaziz said.
He added that lessons would be taken from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in neighboring Qatar, which had to be held in winter to avoid high temperatures.
He said Saudi Arabia is “definitely” looking into whether a summer contest would be feasible.
“Why not see what the possibilities are to do it in the summer? Whether it is summer or winter, it doesn’t matter for us, as long as we make sure that we (deliver) the right atmosphere to host such an event,” he added.
On the subject of the World Cup’s sustainability, Prince Abdulaziz said: “It’s a mandate on us in the Kingdom to make sure that we abide by the international regulations … to make sure that we play our role, to make sure that it’s eco-friendly.”
He addressed the progress of football in the Kingdom, which has taken on global significance since the £750 million influx of big names to the Saudi Pro League earlier this year, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Neymar.
At grassroots, too, football is gaining in popularity, and the Kingdom even sees over 70,000 women and girls regularly taking part in the sport.
“All of our big matches have attracted record numbers so far … We’re broadcasting to 147 countries around the world,” Prince Abdulaziz said.
“When we planned to develop the league we never thought that we would do it with such pace, but to see that is actually refreshing and it actually showcases the importance of this. Our focus is to develop our league to attract the best in the world.”


Steven Gerrard: ‘Extremely nice’ to have Moussa Dembele back for Al-Ettifaq

Steven Gerrard: ‘Extremely nice’ to have Moussa Dembele back for Al-Ettifaq
Updated 08 December 2023
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Steven Gerrard: ‘Extremely nice’ to have Moussa Dembele back for Al-Ettifaq

Steven Gerrard: ‘Extremely nice’ to have Moussa Dembele back for Al-Ettifaq
  • French striker makes return in draw with Al-Shabab after 2 months out
  • Moussa ‘key to us winning games,’ teammate Jack Hendry says

RIYADH: Al-Ettifaq manager Steven Gerrard said it was “extremely nice” to have Moussa Dembele back in Roshn Saudi League action after his No. 9 made a substitute return following knee surgery.
The former Fulham, Celtic, Atletico Madrid and Lyon striker played the final 20 minutes of the 0-0 draw at Al-Shabab on Thursday night. The game at the new Al-Shabab Club Stadium in Riyadh saw Ettifaq finish with 10 men following Demarai Gray’s red card, while the hosts ended with nine after Ever Banega and Gustavo Cuellar were both dismissed.
While frustrated not to have taken all three points — Dembele nearly made the perfect return with a late header that went over the bar — Gerrard said that having his top scorer back was a boost. Al-Ettifaq have failed to score in five of the eight games since the French striker last played, drawing three and losing two.
“It’s extremely nice to see Moussa Dembele back, extremely nice,” Gerrard said.
“When we get Moussa back up in a better place physically and get more minutes into him then I’m sure we’ll carry more of a threat. Moussa Dembele brings goals and assists. The good thing is we have him back. He’s a goalscorer. We’ve missed that quality.”
The former Rangers manager’s comments on the return of Dembele, who netted seven goals in eight Roshn Saudi League matches before his injury at the beginning of October, were echoed by teammate Jack Hendry.
“It’s very big for us to have him back. He’s a figurehead for us up front,” the defender said.
“He’s going to be the key to us winning games and kind of turning our fortunes in the right direction. Moussa’s a proven goalscorer. I played with him at Celtic and I know what he can bring to a team, so to have a figurehead like him up front is going to be important for us moving forward.”
Dembele said: “We will continue to work hard to improve our finishing.”
Ahead of weekend fixtures, Al-Ettifaq — who next play Al-Taawoun at home on Saturday, Dec. 16 — sit eighth in the league table.
“The game as it progressed was certainly there for the taking,” Gerrard said. “When we had a man advantage, we made a tactical change to take a defender off and bring Moussa on to be more aggressive and more opportunities came. We’re a bit frustrated we haven’t gone and taken the big opportunity to go and win the game.
“We’ll continue to grind until we find our rhythm and confidence in the final third, but we want to challenge individuals and the collective to bring more in the final third.”


Rashford must fight for Man Utd place, says Ten Hag

Rashford must fight for Man Utd place, says Ten Hag
Updated 08 December 2023
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Rashford must fight for Man Utd place, says Ten Hag

Rashford must fight for Man Utd place, says Ten Hag
  • “Rashford is an incredible, good player,” Ten Hag said on Friday
  • “You can’t do it with 11 players, he can’t play every game”

LONDON: Erik ten Hag says it is up to Marcus Rashford to force his way back into the Manchester United side after he was dropped for the midweek win against Chelsea.
The England international was left out of the starting line-up for the 2-1 win at Old Trafford after a string of disappointing performances, with his attitude questioned after last week’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle.
Rashford, 26, scored a career-high 30 times for United last season but has netted just twice in the current campaign.
“Rashford is an incredible, good player,” Ten Hag said on Friday. “You can’t do it with 11 players, he can’t play every game, he’s not in this moment in the form he was last year but I am sure he will get there.
“It is up to them (to get back into the side). The team will always line themselves up and the best players who form the best team will play.”
United face an in-form Bournemouth side at Old Trafford on Saturday, and Ten Hag has plenty to consider in his team selection with a must-win Champions League match against Bayern Munich to follow on Tuesday before they head to Liverpool next week.
“I think they have very good form, Bournemouth,” Ten Hag said.
“It’s a very good side, very well constructed, capable players, again you have to play your best.
“Everyone is killing everyone — you have to be 100 percent ready as a team for that game. That’s our job to do, to get there.”


SailGP’s first all-women F50 training session takes place in Dubai

SailGP’s first all-women F50 training session takes place in Dubai
Updated 08 December 2023
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SailGP’s first all-women F50 training session takes place in Dubai

SailGP’s first all-women F50 training session takes place in Dubai
  • Event took place ahead of weekend’s showpiece race

DUBAI: SailGP on Friday created a slice of history with the first ever all-women training session taking place in Dubai ahead of the weekend’s showpiece race.

The session took place on board the Switzerland F50 and was coached by team sailing adviser and former Japan driver Nathan Outteridge.

It marked the first time in SailGP history that an all-women crew has sailed together on the F50 and included 12 athletes from across SailGP’s 10 national teams, including Emirates GBR’s Hannah Mills, Switzerland’s Laurane Mettraux, New Zealand’s Jo Aleh and Liv Mackay, and Australia’s Tash Bryant.

Outteridge said it was “a great opportunity” for the women athletes to sail together.

“We had a quick briefing this morning to talk through the playbook of how we would sail the boat and the goal for everyone was to get a chance to be on the boat in a position they haven’t done before.” she added.

Since the launch of the women’s pathway midway through season two, female athletes have raced in all of the SailGP races — us ually in the role of strategist. The league’s ambition is to have a woman driver on the start line for season six.

The training was split into a morning and afternoon session, with the athletes rotating into different positions around the boat.

Australia’s Tash Bryant said she was “grateful” to the Swiss team for hosting the training session.

“We had a good start, no majors, nothing went wrong — I hope we get to do more,” she added.

Launched in season two, SailGP’s women’s pathway aims to create an inclusive sporting championship where the best athletes have equal opportunity to compete on the F50.


Saudi Games 2023: Al-Hilal claim basketball gold after win over Al-Nassr

Saudi Games 2023: Al-Hilal claim basketball gold after win over Al-Nassr
Updated 08 December 2023
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Saudi Games 2023: Al-Hilal claim basketball gold after win over Al-Nassr

Saudi Games 2023: Al-Hilal claim basketball gold after win over Al-Nassr
  • Jeddah United successfully defend women’s basketball title by beating Al-Asima

RIYADH: Al-Hilal were crowned basketball champions at the Saudi Games 2023 on Thursday night after defeating Al-Nassr 82-68 at Prince Faisal bin Fahad Olympic Complex.

Team Ohod secured the bronze medal by beating Al-Ahli 78-62 in the third-place playoff. The medals were awarded by Prince Fahad bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz Al-Musaed, vice-president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee and director of the Saudi Games.

In the women’s basketball competition, Jeddah United successfully defended their championship title after a 67-62 win in extra time against Al-Asima. Dr. Ghassan Tashkandi, president of the Saudi Basketball Federation, presented the medals to the triumphant team in the presence of Ignaciu Soriano, head of events and partnerships at FIBA.

Al-Ahli secured the bronze medal by defeating Al-Hilal 51-41.

The men’s handball group stage matches concluded on Thursday night, with Al-Hada defeating Al-Wehda 41-31 in Group 4. Meanwhile, the match between Al-Ahli and Al-Noor resulted in a 34-34 draw, while Al-Adalah secured a 36-26 win against Al-Hazem.

The semifinals will take place on Friday at King Saud University’s Sports Arena with Al-Noor facing Al-Hada, while Al-Khaleej will square off against Al-Adalah later in the evening.

The group stage matches of the youth handball competition concluded with Al-Ahli defeating Al-Hilal 40-20, while Mudhar beat Al-Qarah 43-18. Meanwhile Al-Khaleej secured a 41-19 victory over Al-Safa.

The semifinal matches for youth handball will take place on Friday at King Saud University Arena with Mudhar facing Al-Ahli, while Al-Khaleej will take on Al-Noor. The final match is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 9.

In the women’s tennis competition, Nadia Laaroussi of Al-Nassr Club defeated reigning champion Yara Al-Hogbani of Al-Ittihad in the quarterfinals. Asfa Shahbaz, from Al-Nassr, defeated club colleague Zeinab Al-Obaidan. Lara Bukary, also from Al-Nassr, defeated her clubmate Samar Al-Obaidan.

Friday’s semifinals will see Laaroussi facing Shahbaz, while Bukary will compete against the winner of the match between Al-Salam’s Maisaa Ben Hassine and Al-Nassr’s Sara Al-Obaidan.

In the men’s tennis quarterfinals, Ammar Al-Hogbani of Al-Ittihad Club defeated Badr Idrees of Al-Hilal, Saud Al-Hogbani, also from Al-Ittihad, defeated Al-Salam’s Omar Ahmed, and Al-Ahli’s Abdulmajeed Bukhari knocked out Amjad Bukhari. In the day’s final match, Al-Hilal’s Suliman Al-Qasem defeated Al-Thuqbah’s Waleed Al-Sayyah.

The semifinal will see Al-Qasim take on Ammar Al-Hogbani, and Saud Al-Hogbani facing Bukhari.

The Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee athletes have dominated the rankings, securing 115 medals (35 gold), with three days of the competition to go.

Al-Hilal are in second place with 58 medals (20 gold), while Al-Shabab are in third with 42 (17 gold).