Saudi Minister Defends $808M Shopping Spree Featuring Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar – “Premier League Did That & That’s How They Started”

The Saudi League has been making news since last season for spending huge money on transfers. There are rumors that more players will arrive this January and next summer. However, the Saudi minister has said that he sees no problem with extravaganza spending on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. He has also shared the example of the Premier League doing the same.

It seems that the Middle Eastern leagues are not going to stop anytime soon with their spending. They have made it known to the soccer world that they intend to compete with the top leagues in the world.

Saudi minister compares the spending on Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and others with the Premier League

In the January transfer window, Saudi giants Al Nassr confirmed the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo. After that followed the signings of Benzema, Neymar, and others for a combined $808 million in the last two transfer windows. This saw many soccer fans criticizing them for spending money to buy success. However, Saudi Minister Prince Abdulaziz has defended the spending, saying, “I think the Premier League did that, and that’s how they started. Nobody questioned them when they did it.”

The Saudi League has already made big gains after signing big stars. It is now watched in 147 countries, which helped them speed up their plan to expand the Saudi Women’s League. They are also likely to spend huge amounts of money on top women’s soccer stars. Prince Abdulaziz has also made it clear that the spending attracts a global audience similar to the European leagues.

One can also not turn a blind eye to the contributions of Cristiano Ronaldo after his arrival. Despite the long list of superstar signings in the last season and a half, the Portuguese star remains the most popular signing in the league.

Ronaldo and his immediate impact on Al Nassr and the Saudi League

Many had questioned the intention of Cristiano Ronaldo to sign for Al Nassr. But his immediate impact on them on the pitch with his goals meant that he meant business and was not here to enjoy it. The Al Nassr star also claimed at the end of the last season that the Saudi League had the potential to become the next big league in the soccer world.

While many of them laughed off his statement, this season, Al Nassr matches have been one of the most watched in the league. They now have a sponsorship with Adidas for their kits. Al Nassr will also travel to China to play two friendlies in January. They will receive a sum of $10 million for their tour.

Do you think Saudi League will surpass European leagues in terms of popularity? Sound off in the comments below.

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