Recently, the Saudi pro League began to gain popularity as a destination for footballers; already, a number of well-known players have committed to playing for the League’s best teams.
Robert Firmino, N’golo Kante, Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo have all agreed to terms to play in the Saudi Arabian Premier League.
Additionally, Saudi pro League director Michael Emenalo of Nigerian football argues that players are not migrating to the Middle East for financial incentives.
Emenalo claimed that the players that relocated to Saudi Arabia were aware of the nature of the business.
“They recognize when something is happening and you have to have conversations with them, not just the agent and explain to them what the league is about,” Emenalo told the BBC.
The Nigerian administrator further stated that players joining the Saudi professional League aim to leave a lasting legacy and make a significant contribution.
“So, if a lot of them are making this decision, it’s not necessarily because of the economic side of the opportunity. It’s also because they recognize that this is going to be something that defines their legacy and they have an opportunity to contribute something special,” he added.
Sadio Mane, a forward for Bayern Munich, is allegedly close to signing with Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia.
READ ALSO: Japan coach declares opener against Zambia a must win.
The 31-year-old reportedly opted to sign with the Saudi team after only a year at Bayern Munich, where he struggled and only managed to score seven goals in 25 games.
